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As rising gas prices cut deeply into family budgets, more and more people are realizing that to be economically competitive, North Carolina needs decent public transportation. HB 2363, Congestion Relief/Intermodal Transport Fund, would set North Carolina on the road to better public transportation. While the bill does not include money, it establishes a structure for state and local governments to invest in projects ranging from commuter rail, to rapid bus service, to freight rail that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Some arguments in support of H2363 include:

- Over half of North Carolina’s $3.9 billion in transportation spending is currently directed towards new road capacity; less than 3% goes to public transportation. H2363 would establish a fund earmarked for public transportation and rail, boosting state commitment to transit.
- The federal government offers million of dollars of funding for transit projects, but there’s a catch: federal funds have to be matched by state and local funds.  Currently, North Carolina lacks a way to do that. H2363 would authorize local governments to raise funds for a local match through vehicle registration fees or sales taxes, making projects eligible for federal funds.
- The city of Charlotte has had great success with its new LYNX light rail system; even before the first line opened last fall, it had attracted $2 billion worth of private investment along the new transit corridor.  With H2363’s financing structure in place, other metro areas could also develop successful public rail and bus systems.

Click here to read more about transportation issues in North Carolina. Please send the letter below to your legislators. Your message will have most impact if you add your own comments in box provided.