To the Editor:

The obviously failing Red Line Rail effort championed by our liberal-leaning, big-spending North Meck mayors (Woods, Tarte, and Swain) in concert with Anthony Foxx and Beverly Perdue’s Department of Transportation (NC DOT) is welcome news for taxpayers. The real tragedy however is that this aggressive, extremely well-organized, and high energy initiative could have been profoundly constructive for regional transportation if focused on our true priorities.

The Red Line never made common sense. This gigantic (likely double the $452 million estimate per most prior experience nationally) government project intended to build commuter rail from Mooresville to Gateway Station (near Johnson and Wales; several blocks from Trade and Tryon). Astonishingly, there were never current or even planned rail connections anywhere (e.g. SouthPark, UNCC, Airport – none, ever). Less than 3 percent of commuters would ride the train routinely. The hyper growth ($5 billion worth) required to finance the project would either not have happened at even a fraction of forecast (per Blue Line experience) or would have created extreme new stresses on our roads (95 percent of residents living even right on the rail line use local roads daily), schools, and other public services – forcing our tax rates up dramatically.

Predictably, the Red Line has now been fully revealed as lacking any real support:

• Norfolk Southern, the actual owner of the rail line has no interest. Norfolk Southern’s shocking letter to NC DOT last week established firmly their opposition to the project on numerous, fundamental grounds (operational exclusions, liability protection costs, Norfolk Southern control, expired environmental review, needed infrastructure, unrealistic timelines, legal challenges – their list is long)
• Local property owners who must approve paying the Special Assessment District (SAD) tax are virtually all saying “no way, makes no sense economically”
• Iredell County has voted unanimously to oppose the project with the Iredell County Chairman describing all this as “cockamamie,” “insane,” and a “fairy tale”
• Even Democrat-controlled Mecklenburg County is now ceasing further consideration until all issues raised in the Norfolk Southern letter and with Iredell County are resolved
• The N.C. Legislature lacks significant interest in the project. Thankfully, we now have a conservative, fiscally-responsible majority which recognizes the likelihood that the Red Line Rail will go way over budget, predicted Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues will not show up on time, and the State of North Carolina will be on the hook for a massive bailout of the bondholders.

All of this is not really surprising given how dumb the idea was from the beginning. Tragically, though, we have missed a great opportunity to focus all this time and energy on expanding CRITICAL roads (confirming a near-term letting date for I-77 expansion) and planning a 21st century Rapid Bus Transit (RBT) system like the one now underway in Connecticut (technology-driven, supremely flexible, extremely high quality experience for commuters). We also must continue to carefully manage our residential growth – this is the other side of the coin and is equally imperative.

Dave Gilroy, Commissioner, Town of Cornelius

RELATED LINKS

Jan. 27, 2012: “Consultant says Red Line financing plan can be revised”
Jan. 24, 2012: “Norfolk Southern says Red Line may not be feasible on its track”
Jan. 17, 2012: “Iredell Board skeptical about rail plan, but puts off ‘no’ vote”

*See more of our  previous coverage of the Red Line project on CorneliusNews.net.*

See information, presentations, questions and answers and other project information on RedLineRegionalRail.org, the project website.