However, opponents caution voters about politicians’ promises that the tax will be enough to pay for the system.

Don Reid was one of the leaders of the Stop The Train group that fought to repeal the transit tax. He said Wednesday that Charlotte residents are going to bear a huge burden for light rail.

"We know they can't do what they say they're going to do without raising taxes, without doing the same things to folks they threatened would happen if they rescinded the tax," he said.

Reid said light rail costs will skyrocket and Charlotte voters should hold their leaders accountable.

Mayor Pat McCrory said future light rail lines must stay within budget, and the project should be scaled back if it doesn't.

"It'll go through a rigorous analysis of how we spend our future money, and I'm going to demand that analysis," McCrory said.

The mayor said all major projects face cost overruns. His concern is making the best use of the money that voters just approved.

The light rail line in Charlotte's south end is scheduled to start carrying passengers in less than three weeks. The Lynx line is still doing daily test runs.