CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A proposed one-cent sales tax referendum on Mecklenburg County's ballot could reshape public safety on Charlotte's transit system, potentially establishing a dedicated police force to patrol buses and light rail.

The 30-year plan is projected to generate approximately $19.4 billion to fund road, rail and bus improvements across the region. If approved by voters, it would also provide funding to create a Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority with the power to establish its own police department.

The push for a dedicated police force has gained urgency as safety concerns have intensified following the August death of Iryna Zarutska and other high-profile crimes on the light rail and at transit centers.

Charlotte Area Transit System currently relies on private secu

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