2025 Mecklenburg Countywide Transportation Sales Tax Referendum

As Pineville and other Mecklenburg County municipalities experiences continued growth and development, the demands placed upon transportation infrastructure are increasingly significant.

Time Line

On July 1, 2025, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed the Projects for Advancing Vehicle-Infrastructure Enhancements (P.A.V.E.) Act into law.

On August 6, 2025, the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners voted to place a countywide transportation sales tax referendum on the November 4, 2025, ballot.

If approved by voters on November 4, 2025, revenue from this tax is projected to fund improvements in roads, railways, and buses, with the aim of addressing traffic congestion, supporting mobility, enhancing regional economic competitiveness, and improving quality of life. This action puts the matter into your hands, and your vote will decide whether the transportation sales tax goes into effect.

On July 1, 2026, if the November referendum is passed by the voters, the sales tax rate will increase from 7.25% to 8.25%.

How It Will Be Broken Down

40% for Roads
Sales tax revenue for roadway projects would begin to be distributed directly to the municipalities in July 2026. The roadway money would support funding priority projects identified in adopted plans and supported by residents’ input through public engagement, including current NCDOT projects and new road projects.

40% for Rail
Sales tax revenue for transit would also fund the construction of high-capacity transit corridors across Mecklenburg County, such as the Blue Line Extension. This extension to Pineville and Ballantyne includes a minimum operable segment (MOS), which is a shorter portion of the LPA that can function independently while providing meaningful service. The MOS is included in the fiscally constrained plan. It is a proposed extension of light rail service from the existing terminus of the Blue Line at I-485/South Boulevard to Community House Road in Ballantyne.

Key Destinations

• Blue Line
• Centrum Parkway
• Carolina Place Mall
• Ballantyne Corporate Park
• The Ballantyne Bowl

The CATS Transit System Plan outlines the broader implementation of the proposed transit systems.

20% for Bus
CATS Better Bus Plan proposes a robust bus network expansion over the next 5-10 years with the added sales tax revenue.  Plan components include:

• Expand CATS Micro on-demand service to 100 additional square miles across Mecklenburg County within 5 years.
• Enhance access to service for the 15-minute frequency within five years (250,000 more people within a quarter mile of transit, compared to 29,000 people today).
• Construction/Improve 2000 new or upgraded bus shelters, benches and waiting pads within 10 years.

Beginning in July 2026, sales tax revenue designated for roadway projects will be distributed directly to municipalities.