 |
|
| Location |
Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Project Sponsor |
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) |
| Mode |
Light Rail |
| Description |
The first phase of Charlotte's LYNX rapid transit system opened in late 2007. It is a 9.6-mile, 15-station light rail transit (LRT) line extending from Uptown Charlotte (the city's central business district) to Interstate 485 in south Mecklenburg County near the South Carolina State line. A 3.7-mile portion of the system operates on a former portion of Norfolk Southern and North Carolina Railroad right-of-way purchased by the City of Charlotte, with the remaining 5.9 miles operating on separate tracks paralleling the remaining Norfolk Southern right-of-way. Seven of the stations include park-and-ride lots with a total of approximately 3,300 spaces. The Blue line is the first of many planned extensions. |
| Cost |
$462.7 million |
| Funding Sources |
Federal funds
FTA New Starts Full Funding Grant Agreement - $192.9 million
FTA Section 5307 Formula Funds - $6.4 million
State funds
State Full Funding Grant Agreement Funds - $115.7 million
Local funds
Sales Tax Revenue - $147.7 million (½-cent voter approved transit tax, partially funded through Certificates of Participation) |
Project Delivery/
Contract Method |
Design/Bid/Build |
| Private Partner |
None |
Project Advisors/
Consultants |
Parsons Transportation Group
Archer Western Contractors
|
| Lenders |
$109.4 million of Long Term Debt issued in the form of Certificates of Participation; Short Term Debt has been redeemed |
| Duration / Status |
Construction for the project began in February 2005, and the line was opened November 2007 |
| Financial Status |
Project close-out by 12/31/09 |
| Innovations |
- Voter-approved sales tax dedicated to transit improvements used to provide local funding.
- Excellent partnership pooling funding resources at the Federal, state, and local level.
|
| Related Links / Articles |
City of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County LYNX Blue Line Website
CATS Annual Reports
CATS Destination: 2030
|
| Contacts |
David McDonald
Charlotte Area Transit System
600 East Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-336-6900
|