Leaders provide update on light rail expansion

CHARLOTTE — Leaders gave an update Monday on plans to expand the light rail from Belmont to west Charlotte to Matthews and Union County.

Plans for the Lynx Silver Line have been in the works since 2019.

The line won’t run entirely on Wilkinson Boulevard, because part of the road is only 100 feet wide.

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The road would have to be widened to about 180 or 190 feet to fit light rail vehicles.

The track would swing south for a portion of its route along Wilkinson Boulevard.

The Silver Line will run parallel to the Norfolk Southern Tracks until it gets closer to the airport.

The Charlotte Area Transit System said it would be cheaper and less disruptive.

“Think about not just the real estate costs of building the road, but also the disruption of businesses, acquisition and relocation of businesses,” said Andy Mock, senior project manager. “So that is just many of the issues we are looking for.

The city is kicking off public engagement sessions for the 26-mile project starting Tuesday.

The line also won’t drop passengers off directly at the airport, due to hurdles and security concerns.

Instead, the plan is to have a stop near the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. At that point, a people mover would bring passengers directly to the airport. This system is modeled to similar ones in Denver and Phoenix.

Information from the city:

CATS is hosting a series of public meetings on the proposed Silver Line alignment. Below is information from CATS:

Beginning Tuesday, February 16, CATS will host a series of live virtual public meetings that will detail the refined alignment, explain the decision-making process for refinements, and provide a Q&A opportunity with project staff. Each meeting will stream live on CATS’ YouTube page at 5:30 p.m. according to the following schedule:

Tuesday, February 16

Focus Area 1: Wilkinson Boulevard (City of Belmont to I-485)

Wednesday, February 17

Focus Area 2: Wilkinson Boulevard (I-485 to West Morehead Street)

Thursday, February 18

Focus Area 3: Center City (West Morehead Street to Charlottetowne Avenue)

Tuesday, February 23

Focus Area 4: Independence Boulevard (Charlottetowne Avenue to Idlewild Rd)

Thursday, February 25

Focus Area 5: Independence Blvd (Idlewild Rd to just south of I-485 at CPCC Levine)

Tuesday, March 2

Focus Area 6: Potential Union County Extension

Participants are asked to go to RideTransit.org/LYNXSilverLine to share their feedback through the Online Open House and survey. The survey and comment period will close March 11, 2021. CATS staff will present this refined light rail alignment to the MTC in an information session in March 2021. Following adoption in April, the project would move forward into more detailed design and environmental study, and the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) study would advance into further station area planning and towards completion.

For more information on the Silver Line, click here.

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Cox Media Group