RTA and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber endorse Orange transit referendum

October 3, 2012 - 12:16pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2012

BUSINESS COMMUNITY ENDORSES COUNTY TRANSIT REFERENDUM 

The Regional Transportation Alliance and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce announce their support for the half-cent sales tax in Orange County to support a regional transit plan in Orange, Durham, and Wake counties. The proposed tax on November’s ballot will support new bus and enhanced bus service; an Amtrak rail station in Hillsborough; and a future light rail connection from UNC to downtown Durham.  

“Investing in infrastructure has always been important to the business community and is part of our Chamber’s agenda.  The Chamber’s board unanimously endorsed the transit referendum because it’s good for our economy, good for our community, and good for our region.  If we don’t make this investment, we will be at a competitive disadvantage in both recruiting and retaining employers and talent,” said Barry Leffler, chair of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce.

“Our region is expected to grow by more than a million people in the next two decades.  Enhanced transit options in Orange County and throughout the region will be increasingly important to our success and quality of life amidst this growth.  The Regional Transportation Alliance enthusiastically supports the vision and leadership of Orange County to move transit forward,” said Clymer Cease, chair of the Regional Transportation Alliance, a business coalition that works for regional transportation solutions.   

Both business leadership organizations encourage their members who reside in Orange County to vote in support of the transit referendum this fall to allow this new dedicated funding source to become a reality and to empower our community to invest in our future prosperity.  

The proposed half cent sales tax will not apply to purchases of gasoline, prescription drugs, utilities or groceries and is the equivalent of five cents on a $10 purchase. For more information on the Orange County transit plan, please visit www.ourtransitfuture.com.  For more information about the grassroots campaign supporting transit in Orange County, please visit www.ourfutureontrack.com. 
 

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro (NC) Chamber of Commerce is a business leadership organization serving the greater Chapel Hill, NC community.  The Chamber serves and supports the business interests of its more than 1,100 members and helps create a sustainable community where they can thrive.  Chamber members employ more than 80,000 in the Research Triangle region. 
 

The Regional Transportation Alliance (RTA) is the business leadership group that provides a strategic, action-oriented focus and a powerful, collaborative voice to advance regional transportation solutions that will attract top talent, grow prosperity, and sustain the quality of life for the Triangle region.  The RTA is spearheaded by more than 100 leading companies and anchored by 23 chambers of commerce in 10 counties.  

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