Transit sales tax OK

Voters in Durham County, N.C., Tuesday approved a sales tax for transit, a precursor to better bus service and a staging mechanism for light rail transit and regional (“commuter”) rail passenger service in the Triangle metropolitan area.

The one-half cent transit levy received 60.1% voter approval.

Durham city and Durham County officials were pleased by the result. Officials expect the levy to generate about $18 million to $19 million in new revenue. Money from it would pay first for added bus service in Durham, and later would finance work on two rail systems. Regional rail service would link Durham, Raleigh, the state capital, and eastern Wake County, using existing rights-of-way. LRT plans envision creation of a new route, not yet determined.

The county says it will wait for neighboring Wake or Orange counties to enact a similar tax before they implement the approved sales tax to generate capital.