Blue Line Extension/Northeast Corridor (LYNX)

The Northeast Corridor or Blue Line Extension is the planned light rail extension for the LYNX Blue Line. It would connect directly with the existing Blue Line at the 7th Street station in Uptown Charlotte. The line will serve University City and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It is proposed to follow a northeast path along the existing Norfolk Southern right-of-way along both North Davidson Street and North Tryon Street. It is currently planned to be 11 miles (17.7 km) in length with 13 stations opening by 2015.^[3] Early ridership estimates were around 17,500 passengers a day, but have been revised upward near 22,000 based on actual ridership numbers on the existing Blue Line.^[4]

History

The prospect of developing a light rail line between UNC Charlotte and Uptown via Newell was initially evaluated in 1985.^[5] The route was proposed for the then Southern Railway tracks, parallel to both North Tryon Street and Old Concord Road, and slated for completion at some point between 1995-2000.^[5] After years of discussion and delays, in June 2006 the proposed route was chosen.^[6]

The selected route would follow the existing Norfolk Southern right-of-way from Uptown through approximately Sugar Creek Road where it would parallel North Tryon Street to its terminus on the southern side of Interstate 485. Along the Norfolk Southern ROW, the light rail tracks would parallel existing freight lines and Amtrak passenger rail service. The routing also includes a station on the campus of UNCC.^[6] The decision to not cross I-485 in order to extend the line to Salome Church Road was made based on an estimated $30 million cost for a bridge and a projected daily ridership to the station of only 200 passengers. Recent estimates for construction of the line have ranged from $928 million to $1.12 billion. This includes an increase in grade separations from earlier estimates and 300' long platforms to accommodate additional train cars.^[7]

By November 2007, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave its blessing to begin the preliminary engineering work for the corridor, and in January 2008 the Charlotte City Council approved funding for this work to commence by March 2008.^[1] The $30 million engineering study is expected to be complete by 2010, and at that time the FTA will make its determination as to if federal funding will be available for half of the projects construction.^[1]

In July 2010, CATS announced that funding is being sought to extend the existing line to 9th Street to serve the UNC Charlotte Uptown Campus.^[8]

On December 12, 2011, the FTA issued a record of decision for the line, confirming that the preliminary design passes the requirments of the National Environmental Policy Act, and allowing final design work to begin.^[9] On the same day, an $18 million federal grant for the project was approved.^[9]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Harrison, Steve (2008-01-29). "Light rail extension study to start in March". The Charlotte Observer: pp. 1A. 
2. ^ "Rapid Transit Planning". Charlotte Area Transit System. Archived from the original on 2007-01-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20070111125354/http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/Rapid+Transit+Planning/home.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
3. ^ Cimino, Karen (2006-12-31). "2007 is key for future of northeast corridor line". The Charlotte Observer: pp. 1C. 
4. ^ January 13 & 15, 2009 Blue Line Extension Public Meeting Presentation
5. ^ ^{a b} Israel, Mae (1985-08-08). "County rail system ahead?". The Charlotte Observer: pp. Metro 1. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Cimino, Karen (2006-06-29). "Rail route: UNCC, Yes - Crossing I-485, No". The Charlotte Observer: pp. 1B. 
7. ^ LYNX Transitions Newsletter, Summer/Fall 2009
8. ^ Harrison, Steve (July 22, 2010). "City wants federal grant for shorter Lynx extension". The Charlotte Observer. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "CATS' light-rail line lands federal funds, nets favorable FTA decision". Progressive Railroading. December 14, 2011. Archived from the original on December 15, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63xlMDQwG. Retrieved December 16, 2011.