Jim Bensman (Cornelius) and Carroll Gray, Executive Director, called on executives of Norfolk/Southern, four towns and CATS lobbyists and members of the NC Congressional Delegation in an effort to keep the North Commuter Rail line viable.

Aggressive efforts on the part of the LNTC were approved by the Commission when it became apparent that the current half cent sales tax for transit is not producing enough revenues to fund both the Northeast and the North lines. Monthly revenues from the sales tax have dropped from a FY 08/09 projected $78 million a year to an actual $62 million, or $16 million shortfall. Moreover, the new projections actually forecast less revenues in FY 09/10 than 08/09.

“The MTC has yet to officially decide to put all revenues toward the Northeast line, but it is a foregone conclusion that decision is imminent,” said Bensman. “We are effectively on our own, financially speaking” he concluded.

Both Bensman and Gray were impressed at the high level of interest in the North Line by Norfolk/Southern execs as well as elected officials. “A developing consensus is we should rethink the design of the North line with an eye to reducing the scope of the project and seek other cost reductions,” Gray said. “Phasing a project of this size could be a more viable strategy.”