Charlotte, NC — Mayor's Streetcar Veto Reversed

Rail Transit Online – September 2009

The city council has voted 7-4 to override Mayor Pat McCrory's veto of a $4.5-million contract with URS Corp. to design a 9.6-mi. (15.4 km) streetcar line linking Johnson C. Smith University with uptown and Eastland Mall. Last month the mayor had rejected the expenditure, which includes another $1 million for contingencies and administrative costs, because no money is yet available to start construction of the project, which would cost about $457 million in total.

Councilman Anthony Foxx, arguing in favor of the override, said the study was needed to determine if the budget can be trimmed and, if so, how to do it. The seven votes needed for an override all came from Democrats; the four council members supporting the mayor are Republicans.

Under current plans, the first segment would be completed in 2018 and the second five years later.

www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/Rapid+Transit+Planning/Center+City/Home.htm