staffer

Planned NE line terminus is at a P&R lot on current DOT property at N Tryon and I-485. Extension to LMS would be about 2.5 miles, but major cost would be bridge over 485. an old thread from UNC-C campus website speculates on this. Smith is alleged to have told Concord Mayor Padgett a year or two ago at some public event that he (Smith) would kick in $50m for an LRT extension.

2013 was the planned completion date (last three stations are, UNC-C, Mallard Creek Rd, and I-485 P&R). Opening to 36th Street mainly involves rail yard issues (first of which is crossing the CSX Charlotte/Monroe line which I believe carries a lot of freight) and potential construction of a NS Intermodal yard at the airport frees up a lot of space at the N Tryon railyard. There is another rail line that goes off toward Stanly County that has to be crossed as well, otherwise the LR can stay in the NCRR Corridor when trackage issues are resolved. I believe Charlotte has only bought the corridor as far as I-277 (the NCRR ROW runs UNDER 277, then past Alpha Mills where it meets the CSX line.) The toughest and most expensive part of the NE line is past Sugar Creek when it moves over to N Tryon, and especially the Harris Blvd crossing (underground? elevated??) Funding issues may be paramount, however, in deciding whether to phase the line

Of course, in 2013 when the NE Line is scheduled to open, an I-485 station will be in BOTH directions!

Six paragraph CATS press release now up with first two days stats, short excerpt below: "The first two days of LYNX Blue Line ridership started strong with 6,691 commuters using the service on Monday and ridership of 8,029 for Tuesday.

on #1, The City has an option to buy 16 more trains. I think I read recently the option must be exercised by March 2008. on #2, I believe the North Carolina Railroad only sold the city the ROW as far as under the I-277 bridge (maybe 100 yards past the 9th Street station) From there on out to Sugar Creek a sale/lease/track rights would still need to be negotiated. The possible move of much of the NS railyard to the Airport would free up a lot of space. The far right hand part of the rails is the NCRR charter ROW, some of the area closer to N Tryon may be owned just by NS, but it is the NCRR part that CATS needs anyway. The NCRR ROW northeast of the CSX crossover (CLT to Monroe line) behind Alpha Mills (around 12th St) is probably under longterm lease to NS.

I saw a map a few weeks back (not sure if at charmeck.org or uncc.edu) that showed the station proposed to be across from Squires Dorm. I will try to find it again. UPDATE: From UNC-Charlotte newspaper 6/15/2006: Franz also discussed the route of Charlotte's light rail, as it is likely that a stop will be coming close to campus. Franz noted that two possible stops for the light rail would be around Clay Blvd. near the hospital, and on the north side of Cameron Blvd. in the Squires Hall area. This stop would coincide with a pedestrian walkway to the upcoming Student Union.

training riders to get off at the correct stop? actually, service/assistance dogs get trained by expert trainers in riding transit with their owners.

HR3074 FY 2008 Transportation Department Appropriations Bill conference report passed the House November 14, will be coming up in the Senate soon. It includes $2,000,000 (page 13604) as an appropriation to FTA for "Charlotte Rapid Transit, North Carolina". Dole told a group last week that total funding for the project in the bill was $3.6m, so more must be somewhere else in the bill. (edited to improve links)

Recent story from the Charlotte Observer on federal approval of engineering work on the Northeast Corridor speculates work will begin in January. Senate passed FY 2008 federal transportation bill has $2 million for engineering, I heard Liddy Dole at the South line ribbon cutting say there is $3.7 million in the conference report on the bill.

CATS Lynx Northeast Line info Main page Fast Facts University City area plan (35 mb .pdfadopted by Planning Commission 10/22/2007, shows initial plans for sites of Rocky River through University City stations on NE line. 9th Street station is already there as a trolley stop with single track. From 9th St station to 16th St station, will follow NCRR ROW, going UNDER I-277 (277 is elevated) then must cross Charlotte to Monroe CSX freight line.