Charlotte's next light rail line has broken ground
Source
Today was
the groundbreaking ceremony for Charlotte's next light rail line. It is actually an extension that will double the existing light rail length. The current line runs from center city down south through Southend to the I-485 beltway. The new extension will run northeast through NoDa to University City and end on the campus of UNC Charlotte.
Google map of the extension.
Here's a little Q & A:
How long will construction take?
Groundbreaking is 7/18/13 and utility work begins immediately. Service starts 2017.
Is the line any different than the existing one?
Yes. The original light rail line's stations were designed to handle 1 and 2 car trains. The new line will have stations that can fit 3 car trains. There are plans in place to go back and expand the existing stations.
What's up with the funding?
The light rail line is fully funded. The cost is $1.16b and roughly 50% is federal, 26% state, and 24% local.
How long is the line?
9.3 miles which will double the line to 18.6 miles.
Were plans changed during the process?
Yes. Originally the line would extend all the way northeast to I-485 with a park and ride at the interstate. To fit within the budget two stations were eliminated and the line will terminate on the campus of UNC Charlotte. The line is designed so it can be extended in the future.
How many stations?
11 new stations. 4 will be park and ride stations with a total of 3,100 new parking spaces.
What are ridership projections?
By 2035, 24,500 daily weekday riders on the extension, 26,500 on the existing line, for a total of 51,000. The original line beat initial projections when it opened.
How long will the commute take?
25 minutes from the campus of UNC Charlotte to center city (Transportation Center/Arena Station) and 47 minutes to ride the entire cross county line end to end.
How many new light rail vehicles will the city purchase?
22 for a total of 42.
What other construction is going on along the line?
The railroad yard and truck yard is being moved to the new multi-modal cargo yard at the airport, freeing up a good amount of land. Plus, improvements are being made along the corridor for the eventual high speed rail line. The Amtrak station will be moved to center city, and several crossing such as 36th street and Sugar Creek will be converted to grade separated. The extension will also include new bike lanes, sidewalks, and landscaping.
What kind of TOD can we expect along the extension?
By 2035 the areas around the new stations will have over 10,000 new housing units, over 3.8m sq. ft. of office space, and over 1.3m sq. ft. of retail space.
What about public art along the extension?
Just like with the original line, 1% of the project budget will go to fund art at the stations and along the line.
What will the stations be like?
Like the current stations, all stations will have canopy coverage, covered ticket vending machines, system and area maps, train and bus schedules, public art, bicycle storage, benches, trash receptacles and security features.
Some photos of the existing line I've taken:
TOD!
