Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena (LYNX station)

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Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena
LYNX light rail station
Station statistics
Address 310 East Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Coordinates 35°13′30″N, 80°50′29″W
Lines
Blue Line
Structure At-grade
Platforms 2 side platforms[1]
Tracks 2[1]
Bicycle facilities Racks available
Other information
Opened 24 November 2007
Accessible Handicapped/disabled access
Owned by Charlotte Area Transit Systems
Services
Preceding station   LYNX   Following station
Blue Line
Terminus

The Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena station or CTC/Arena station is a light rail station for both the LYNX light rail system and the historic Charlotte Trolley in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.. The station officially opened for service on Saturday, November 24, 2007, and as part of its opening celebration fares were not collected.[2] Regular service with fare collection commenced on Monday, November 26, 2007.[2]

The station is located at East Trade Street between Brevard Street and College Street. It has side platforms, which sit on either side of the tracks. Additionally, the station has an entrance from the platform into the neighboring Charlotte Transportation Center.

The station is unique to the LYNX system in that the entire platform is covered by a roof made of synthetic materials and supported by curved steel.[3] The present design was originally scrapped due to high costs, but was later brought back and constructed after multiple Uptown businesses donated money to make up the difference in construction costs.[3]

[edit] Notable places nearby

[edit] Charlotte Transportation Center

Celebrating its grand opening on December 11, 1995, through a partnership with then-NationsBank, the CTC is served by most local and express CATS routes that lead from outlying areas destined for Uptown.[4] Its opening moved the central transfer point for all CATS buses from The Square two blocks to the west in an effort to improve traffic congestion along Tryon Street and provide transit riders a more efficient centralized transfer point.[4] Additionally, a Greyhound bus station is located not far from here, as well as the downtown Gold Rush trolley service. The Amtrak station is approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the LYNX line.

Beyond just being the flagship transfer center in the system, the Charlotte Transportation Center has a rare distinction of having businesses located here for people's personal conveniences. Among these are a Bank of America branch, Postal Plus mailing service, a Plaza Sundries food store and a Char-Meck police unit; it also houses four restaurants: Bojangles', Burger King, Lil Orbits and a Subway.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b CTC/Arena station site plan
  2. ^ a b Harrison, Steve; Kristen Valle. "Light rail, heavy traffic - Thousands wait in lines for a free ride on 1st day", The Charlotte Observer, November 25, 2007, p. 1A. 
  3. ^ a b Harrison, Steve. "Rail's early opening hinges on one station - Uptown stop must be complete before any part of line can open", The Charlotte Observer, June 17, 2007, p. 1B. 
  4. ^ a b Powell, Dannye Romine. "Checked out the Transit Center", The Charlotte Observer, December 12, 1995, p. 1C. 

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 35°13′30″N, 80°50′29″W

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