Posted on 08/25/2004 8:34:31 AM PDT by southernnorthcarolina
The rapid-transit backers who run Charlotte haven't found an ally in Republican gubernatorial nominee Patrick Ballantine, who is telling audiences around North Carolina that when spending state money, roads are right and rail is wrong.
"We need to build roads better and faster," Ballantine told a crowd in Wilson during a recent swing through eastern counties, saying he doesn't want road money used for trains.
"Road money is for roads," he said.
Ballantine's position might appeal to fiscally conservative Republican voters. But it puts him at odds with Mecklenburg GOP leaders, who have been hitting up state lawmakers for 25 percent of the estimated $3 billion needed to build five routes over the next two decades.
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(Excerpt) Read more at charlotte.com ...
Opposing funds for Charlotte projects is always a political plus for NC candidates. Sometimes, it amounts to a cheap shot against "the big city," and sometimes, as a Charlotte native, I have problems with that political strategy. In this case, however, it is absolutely warrented.
The budget for the first line (light rail, grade crossings and all) has already more than doubled before the beginning of construction. The line has been shortened for budgetary reasons, now stopping short of Carolina Place Mall. And most amazing, and little commented on, is the fact that each station will have platforms long enough to handle trains of -- get this -- two cars in length.
Train backers are relying on incrementalism. Get the first line built, and then sell the argument that "we have to expand it -- we have too much invested in it to stop now."
The time to stop it, of course, is before it begins.
Is there any chance that the rail could also be stopped by way of the Feds not pitching in?
I'm hoping Ballentine wins, the rail goes away, and tax money is NOT given to the Knights to get a stadium downtown. (If they want to do it on their own nickel, fine, but not on mine).
What are Ballentine's chances? Do we have a shot in Nov of getting rid of Easley?
-Fellow Charlottean
Poll/Date: SUSA | 8/13-8/15
Sample: 585 LV
MoE: 4.1
Ballantine (R): 44
Easley (D): 51
Undec: 4
Spread: Easley +7
2000 Vote: Easley +5
Ballantine did not show much backbone when he capitulated under the criticism of Democrats and their mouthpiece, The Charlotte Observer, pulling the TV ads that used comments from the Charlotte newspaper (which were clearly NOT USED as an endorsement by the Ballantine campaign). Very disappointing, Patrick.
RR's are a joke ......but i fear the tax payers will suffer..Ballantine will loose and we will get hosed again
It would be nice if Easley and his cohorts would spend the millions of state dollars pledged for the NASCAR test facility to improve our roads in NC. Fat chance!
The Feds will almost surely take their cue from the State. If State funding is withheld or delayed, so too will Fed funding, IMHO.
I'm hoping Ballantine wins, the rail goes away, and tax money is NOT given to the Knights to get a stadium downtown. (If they want to do it on their own nickel, fine, but not on mine).
I agree with your view on a new stadium for the Knights, just based on principal. But compared to rail, that's penny-ante stuff. Commuter rail in a town like Charlotte is absurd on its face, and extravagantly expensive. As I've said before, it takes people from where they ain't to where they don't want to go. And the expenses will mount every year, forever.
What are Ballentine's chances? Do we have a shot in Nov of getting rid of Easley?
I'm somewhat optimistic, but I'm clearly in the minority here among my fellow NCFReepers, who seem a gloomy lot of late. Certainly Edwards' position on the ticket hurts Ballantine, who needs to ride Dubya's coattails. Both Bush (2000) and Bobdole (1996) ran 13% ahead of their national numbers in NC; that won't happen this time. Still, I think Ballantine has a legitimate shot. Maybe 1 in 3. If he'd listen to me, he'd make the Charlotte rail issue a centerpiece of his campaign. Running against Charlotte is usually good politics in NC, and in this case, it is quite appropriate.
-Fellow Charlottean
I'm a native of Charlotte, but moved out to Union County some years ago, largely due to taxes and the political orientation and regulatory climate of Mecklenburg. There are no certanties in politics, but I'd bet my last buck that even if Charlotte builds out its rail system, they won't get a dime from Union County (other than what we shell out through State and Fed spending, of course). And that will mean any future Southeast Line will stop short of the county line.
Agreed!
If Charlotte wants to develope rail let them. I don't want to pay for it in any way shape or form.
It will be a boondoggle anyway.
NC is not set up like the Northeast[thank gawd] where rail is practical. Its too spread out. The cost per mile or per rider is enormous given the distances needed for it to be an effective alternative to roads.
This is another grab at the public's purse which benefits no one excpet a few. It needs to die and quickly.
There's only one way to move up in those polls, he needs to let loose on Easley. Ah, but that would be too undignified, so he'll just lose, instead.
Why don't you come to the CSE meeting in Statesville, instead? Didn't realize you were having party angst in Catawba (I'd actually heard the opposite).
Mecklenburg GOP is running like clockwork. :-)
Apparently, they've registered more than 20,000 new pro-life voters.
Excellent point, but I suspect the RNC has told him that McCrory is "hands off".
Won't happen... the fed money comes from a special pot reserved for mass transit. States compete for this money. The bigger problem is the feds won't pay to maintain and operate the system. That will be state and local money.
The real issue is that fed money is really your money. just handed back at 85 cents on the dollar with many strings attached.
Really detracts from the Term " "Highway Trust Funds"
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