Transportation in Charlotte is a regular source of confusion for Queen City residents. Will light rail be expanded into more neighborhoods — and what about street cars?

Creative Loafing spoke to Republican candidates, Martin Davis and John Lassiter, who are facing off in the primary election tomorrow to find out what each man would do about transportation in the city and how he would change the current system if elected mayor.

Creative Loafing: What’s the future of Charlotte’s light rail system?

Martin Davis: If Foxx [or] Lassiter get elected, the system will be built out. CATS claims it will cost $2.1 billion. Based on local, national, and worldwide transit history the actual cost would prove to be in excess of $5 billion. When the referendum to repeal the half-cent sales tax for transit was being considered by the community, Foxx/Lassiter promised revenue from the half-cent sales tax for transit would be sufficient to fund the construction of the entire system. The South Boulevard line, originally sold to the citizenry at a price tag of $226 million, ended up costing approximately $520 million. Revenue from the tax has cratered, down 27 percent in FY2008-FY2009, and is projected by the city to fall another 17.4 percent in FY2010 to $63 million. Since many of Foxx/Lassiter's financial backers own land along the proposed transit lines, the system will be completed, with a mama-jama sales tax increase of at least another half-cent. They will also try to do tax increment financing to complete this lunacy. If I am elected, I will do everything in my power to end this nonsense. If Council passes any rail transit scheme of any sort I will automatically veto it.

John Lassiter: Charlotte has a 25-year transportation plan that includes roads, expansion of our bus system and five mass transit corridors that have several options for both design and financing. The current Blue Line along South Boulevard is up and running and by all measures a success in both ridership and economic development along the corridor, over $2 billion in private development to date. The Northeast line from downtown to UNC Charlotte has been approved by the FTA and is in design.  Both projects have a local funding source approved by the voters, a 1/2 cent sales tax. A commuter line north to Davidson along I-77 and a streetcar line from Beatties Ford Road to Eastland Mall are in policy discussion, but no funding source has been identified for construction, nor have we determined the best methods to improve travel along Independence Boulevard or from downtown to the airport. In all cases, the ultimate form of transit will require a partnership between Charlotte, the State of North Carolina and the Federal Transportation Administration.

What are the major issues with providing citywide public transit that people are willing to use?

Davis: Charlotte should only provide transportation to citizens who have none of their own.

Lassiter: Our expanded bus service has seen ridership increase more than 50 percent, especially as gas prices remain high and the cost to park a car escalates. Our Blue Line remains full during peak times and has become a mainstay for folks attending concerts, ballgames and entertainment venues. But light rail is considerably more expensive to both build and operate than buses. Our challenges will be state and federal funding in a down economy, lack of development opportunities along the corridors due to limited credit and the need to balance road construction and improvements with mass transit options.

How will future transit projects be funded?

Davis: Foxx/Lassiter will seek huge increases in our already ruinous 8.25 percent sales tax ([Which is] equal to NYC's — Hooray!!! We're finally world class!!!!). Of course, they aren't about to mention this little item during election season — might cost votes you see. Another omission is the fact they would have to deal with our $12 billion road-building backlog caused by their obsession with transit the last 10 years. So we will have to have at least an additional half-cent dedicated to roads (we’re at 9.25 percent now), double the car registration tax from $30 to $60 annually, make 485, 85, 77 toll roads, and tax Charlotte drivers annually based on number of miles driven. Ain't transit wonderful!!!!!

Lassiter: As noted above, the Northeast line to UNC Charlotte will be paid locally 1/4 through the voter-approved sales tax, 1/2 by the federal government and the balance by the state. We may find some smaller grants that could stimulate project financing but the estimated price tags of the lines: $250M for the North commuter line, $450M for the streetcar will require considerable state and federal funding to be matched by a local source that has not been identified.

Will current plans in place continue for transit development in the future? Why or why not?

Davis: If Foxx/Lassiter are elected they will do their dead-level best to build out the system for reasons previously stated. They will raise taxes as high as humanly possible, but due to national and state economic policy, our weakened local economy will not come close to funding the entire system. If I'm elected, I will try to persuade Council to abandon rail transit and build roads, funded by the sale of city assets. I know the socialists who read CL

will hate this, but at some point the adults just have to take charge.