Charlotte in Motion

A biweekly newsletter on how the Charlotte region is dealing with bumper-to-bumper traffic, rising housing costs, crowded schools and other challenges associated with growth

Charlotte in Motion

Charlotte’s suburbs are tapping the brakes on growth

Feb 26, 2026

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19 min read

Charlotte’s suburbs are tapping the brakes on growth

As areas beyond Mecklenburg County boom, local government leaders are devising new strategies to manage growth — and fierce opposition from constituents

Charlotte in Motion

Will Charlotte City Council rescind its support for I-77 toll lanes?

Feb 12, 2026

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16 min read

Will Charlotte City Council rescind its support for I-77 toll lanes?

$3.2 billion project aims to reduce congestion, but concerns mount over effect on neighborhoods

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

Will the city of Charlotte let go of Gateway Station?

Feb 5, 2026

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12 min read

Will the city of Charlotte let go of Gateway Station?

New tax money could allow the transit authority to finish uptown's train station

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

Dec 11, 2025

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12 min read

Should I-77 go underground?

Building a tunnel could allow widening without harming neighborhoods

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

NCDOT wants new I-77 lanes to maximize traffic flow, not money

Nov 20, 2025

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10 min read

NCDOT wants new I-77 lanes to maximize traffic flow, not money

Residents object to road expansion through historic neighborhoods

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

The transportation tax referendum: What to know

Oct 30, 2025

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17 min read

The transportation tax referendum: What to know

An overview + details of the plan for buses, roads, rail ... and how it would be paid for

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

Charlotte’s rail plan: How much of it can the new sales tax build?

Oct 2, 2025

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15 min read

Charlotte’s rail plan: How much of it can the new sales tax build?

40% of the money would go toward commuter rail, light rail and streetcar extensions

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

Where the transit plan’s ‘road money’ would go

Sep 25, 2025

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10 min read

Where the transit plan’s ‘road money’ would go

Around $100 million a year for Charlotte, spent all over the city

Charlotte in Motion

Sep 18, 2025

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8 min read

How the transit plan would affect buses

More frequent service, Uber-like 'microtransit'

Charlotte in Motion

Charlotte cyclists are calling for a mindset shift

Sep 11, 2025

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13 min read

Charlotte cyclists are calling for a mindset shift

A struggle to share the road

Charlotte in Motion

Charlotte leaders rally support for transit plan

Aug 21, 2025

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6 min read

Charlotte leaders rally support for transit plan

Business group plans $3M+ campaign to persuade voters called 'Yes for Meck'

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

In Plaza Midwood, doubts about the streetcar

Aug 7, 2025

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13 min read

In Plaza Midwood, doubts about the streetcar

The Gold Line would extend down Central Avenue. What would that do to businesses?

Charlotte in Motion

Higher sales tax: $240/year for average home, city says

Jul 10, 2025

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13 min read

Higher sales tax: $240/year for average home, city says

You’d pay more for clothes, restaurant meals and other items — in exchange for expanded transit and roads across Mecklenburg County

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

Transit bill tightens requirements on road money

Jun 26, 2025

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8 min read

Transit bill tightens requirements on road money

Bill expected to receive final approval today, head to governor; Referendum likely to be on November ballot

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

A big transit win, but with a lesser bill?

Jun 12, 2025

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9 min read

A big transit win, but with a lesser bill?

Charlotte's transit tax bill passes a key committee in Raleigh — with a mandate of 20% to be spent on buses

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

Transit plan’s ‘road money’ would free up cash for other city priorities

May 15, 2025

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9 min read

Transit plan’s ‘road money’ would free up cash for other city priorities

Charlotte's city manager says the new $103 million a year could take pressure off the city's general fund; 'salaries for police officers, for firefighters'

Charlotte in Motion

Apr 24, 2025

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9 min read

CLT airport's next building boom

As the airport wraps up major construction projects, more might be on the way

Charlotte in Motion

Apr 3, 2025

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7 min read

I-485 toll lanes delayed, again

Independence Boulvard plans pushed back, and I-77 tolling proceeds

Tony Mecia

Charlotte in Motion

Mar 27, 2025

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13 min read

PSA has big growth plans for Charlotte

Plus: A closer look at Tariq Bokhari's move to a top transit job in Washington

Charlotte in Motion

Mar 13, 2025

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14 min read

Residents pepper CATS with questions

Gold Line? Silver Line? Red Line? CATS provides answers

Charlotte in Motion

Lessons from Charlotte's first light rail line

Mar 6, 2025

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15 min read

Lessons from Charlotte's first light rail line

Former Mayor Pat McCrory's 5 tips for making transit successful

Charlotte in Motion

What’s next for Charlotte’s transit ambitions

Feb 27, 2025

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15 min read

What’s next for Charlotte’s transit ambitions

An in-depth look at the new transit bill and its prospects

Tony Mecia, +1

Charlotte in Motion

CATS: No ridership projections went into the 4 latest transit scenarios

Feb 20, 2025

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9 min read

CATS: No ridership projections went into the 4 latest transit scenarios

The plans include the Red Line commuter train and Gold Line streetcar extensions

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

Feb 13, 2025

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14 min read

Transit Time: Reader mailbag 📫

Feedback from our readers on recent articles

Charlotte in Motion

New transit hurdle: Federal funds to be tied to high marriage rates

Feb 6, 2025

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9 min read

New transit hurdle: Federal funds to be tied to high marriage rates

New guidelines could shake up how transit money flows to cities

Steve Harrison

Charlotte in Motion

Charlotte’s suburbs are tapping the brakes on growth

Will Charlotte City Council rescind its support for I-77 toll lanes?

Will the city of Charlotte let go of Gateway Station?

Should I-77 go underground?

NCDOT wants new I-77 lanes to maximize traffic flow, not money

The transportation tax referendum: What to know

Charlotte’s rail plan: How much of it can the new sales tax build?

Where the transit plan’s ‘road money’ would go

How the transit plan would affect buses

Charlotte cyclists are calling for a mindset shift

Charlotte leaders rally support for transit plan

In Plaza Midwood, doubts about the streetcar

Higher sales tax: $240/year for average home, city says

Transit bill tightens requirements on road money

A big transit win, but with a lesser bill?

Transit plan’s ‘road money’ would free up cash for other city priorities

CLT airport's next building boom

I-485 toll lanes delayed, again

PSA has big growth plans for Charlotte

Residents pepper CATS with questions

Lessons from Charlotte's first light rail line

What’s next for Charlotte’s transit ambitions

CATS: No ridership projections went into the 4 latest transit scenarios

Transit Time: Reader mailbag 📫

New transit hurdle: Federal funds to be tied to high marriage rates

The Charlotte Ledger