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04/26/2004 08:43 9196443002 <br />printer-friendly story <br />n~wsa~$~rver.com <br />DR. CTVQ.PLANNING PAGE 02/06 <br />l~ ~ ~; Page 1 of3 <br />P~ ~cn~ ~ <br />Thursday, April 15, 2004 6:14AM EDT <br />Leaders ca11 transit funds urgent need <br />By BRUCE SICE~OFF, Staff Writer <br />New local fees and taxes are needed to fight traffic <br />congestion and air pollution that could put the Triangle <br />economy in gridlock, regional business and civic leaders <br />said Wednesday. <br />The General Assembly should give county <br />commissioners in the Triangle more options to raise <br />money for roads and transit, they said. The Triangle <br />faces a projected shortfall of $8 billion to $10 billion in <br />federal and state funds for transportation needs over the <br />next 20 years. <br />Meeker says he'd <br />back a local gas tax, <br />registration fee <br />Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker told a state commission increase. <br />studying urban transportation needs that he favored <br />legislation allowing a local 5 percent sales tax c>n <br />gasoline and a $20 increase in vehicle registration fees. That would give Wake <br />County $10 million each year to upgrade public transit and $20 million to improve <br />crowded streets, he said. <br />Triangle business spokesmen said more local revenue is needed to keep freight <br />and passenger traffic moving and the economy humming. But local governments <br />can't raise the money without the General Assembly's permission. <br />"The way government works is just not adequate to keep up with the growth of <br />the area, and we desperately need the ability tw pay for some of these projects <br />ourselves," James O. Roberson, president of the Research Triangle Foundation, <br />said in an interview. The foundation develops and markets Research Triangle <br />Park. <br />No legislation has been drafted, Meeker was the only speaker to suggest specific <br />tax and fee rates. The legislation could take any of several forms, including <br />granting new revenue options to local governments across the state or only to a <br />few urban counties. <br />Two urban legislators on the committee offered encouraging comments but <br />http://www.news-observer.cozn/front/digestly-print/story/3513724p-3117276c,html 4/ 19/2004 <br />