Traveling Down the Wrong Track

As light rail projects in Charlotte and the Triangle move forward, opponents continue to raise red flags about the huge costs and dubious value. In an Associated Press story published Sunday in the Durham Herald-Sun, John Hood drove the point home that neither project will significantly reduce traffic congestion, as many seem to believe. “We know that because the people who are building them have said so.” The story also includes perspective on light rail from UNC-Charlotte professor David Hartgen, author of the recent JLF policy report on state road projects. “Even if it is built, 97 percent of the travel will be on the streets,” he said. “So if we spent 5 percent of the money to improve intersections, we would see a lot more benefits.”