While federal and state politics often make headlines, local politics at the county and municipal level can have a major impact on commercial real estate and daily life. As a result, active advocacy efforts at the local level can pay off for NAIOP chapters. Throughout 2025, NAIOP Charlotte has worked tirelessly for a referendum in Mecklenburg County on transportation investments. Their efforts were rewarded when voters approved the referendum last November.
For years, local groups in Mecklenburg County, like NAIOP Charlotte, have fought to get a transit referendum on the ballot. Advocates argued that new investments were needed to address Charlotte’s alarming increase in traffic fatalities due to unsustainable traffic congestion. Official language finally passed the North Carolina General Assembly last summer, with overwhelming bipartisan support for a referendum during the 2025 elections. A 1% sales tax increase is expected to raise $20 billion over the next 30 years across roads, rail and buses. Short-term priorities included new bus routes and micro-transit options, while light rail and road improvements were long-term goals. In addition, it would create a 27-member board known as the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, with members appointed by Mecklenburg County, the city of Charlotte, all six other cities in the county, Governor Josh Stein, and leadership from both chambers of the General Assembly.
NAIOP Charlotte saw this as an important opportunity for growth and development in the area and played a crucial role in the effort to pass the referendum. In addition to contributing to a public information campaign that ultimately raised $3.2 million, they also organized discussions about the referendum and encouraged members to organize their own town halls and voter activities. They also supported and shared a voter guide created by a local real estate coalition that supported the referendum, and by candidates who supported it. Clearly this was an important issue for the development community.
The referendum was ultimately passed during the November elections. Since then, NAIOP Charlotte has continued its efforts through involvement in its implementation. This paid off even more when Charlotte, former president of NAIOP, was appointed to the new Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority. Beyond just financing, the commercial real estate industry now has a say in exactly how the funds will be spent.
At the federal level, transportation and infrastructure are one of them NAIOP’s three top priorities for 2026. With federal surface transportation programs set to expire later this year, Congress should maintain at least current spending levels for highways, freight railroads, and other critical transportation infrastructure that relies on federal spending. Stability and availability of infrastructure play an important role in real estate development decisions, as well as in facilitating the supply chain.
Specific policies are not one-size-fits-all. Each place has its own priorities and requirements. To be most effective, local advocacy must be tailored to the specific needs of the community. When it comes to its own transportation priorities, NAIOP Charlotte’s success shows that advocating for a solution that works for a place, coupled with effort and perseverance, can be an effective method to achieve any goal and influence policy outcomes.
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