commuter rail
Letter: Red Line is 21st-century fix for Charlotte’s growing gridlock
June 23. Josh Farnsworth describes the Red Line as “1970s-style” technology and argues that roads will always work better for our region. The facts on the ground and the wishes of North Mecklenburg residents say otherwise. [Mecklenburg County’s transportation bill is expected to advance to the North Carolina Senate with a final procedural vote tomorrow. […]
Key transportation bill clears state NC House in 102-6 vote
June 19. By Dave Yochum. The NC House of Representatives passed second reading of the PAVE Act, following a vote by the House Rules Committee yesterday to advance the bill to the full chamber. Sponsored by Rep. Tricia Cotham, the bill would allow Mecklenburg County voters to approve new revenue—from a one-cent sales tax—for transportation […]
Op-Ed: The Red Line is on the wrong track
Oct. 17. [Analysis] By Kurt Naas. The Red Line commuter rail from Charlotte to Mooresville is back in the news again. Norfolk Southern has finally agreed to negotiate the sale of their tracks, Charlotte Area Transportation System (CATS) is kicking off a series of town halls, and Charlotte is proposing a county-wide sales tax increase […]
Red Line pricetag could be in the billions of dollars
Oct. 17. By Dave Vieser. For months, officials from the North Mecklenburg towns of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville, as well as the city of Charlotte have been working hard to rekindle the idea of a commuter line, known as the Red Line, that would operate from the Queen City to the northern suburbs. Over the […]
Charlotte finalizes purchase of O-Line from Norfolk Southern
Sept. 10. By Dave Vieser. The Red Line Commuter Rail Project, designed to serve Cornelius and other North Meck communities, took another step forward as Charlotte finalized the purchase of the O-Line from the Norfolk Southern for $74 million. Charlotte City Council voted 10-1 last week to approve the purchase of the right of way. […]
N. Meck mayors support referendum on transit tax; Davidson board votes Monday
Sept. 6. By Dave Yochum. The three mayors of North Mecklenburg have put out a letter supporting a referendum on a one-cent sales tax increase to fund road improvements as well as the Red Line from Charlotte to Lake Norman. The Cornelius and Huntersville Boards voted to request the state General Assembly authorize a countywide […]
LKN Chamber supports transit referendum, neutral on Red Line, 1 cent tax
Aug. 28. By Dave Yochum. Charlotte plans to buy 22 miles of Norfolk Southern’s O-Line for $74 million and, pending Charlotte City Council approval, get a county-wide referendum on the ballot for a penny sales tax increase that would ultimately bring commuter rail to Lake Norman. Background: The Red Line was promised when the existing […]
Despite Charlotte’s landmark deal to buy O Line tracks, Matthews objects
Aug. 27. By Dave Vieser. As expected, the Matthews Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution in opposition to the proposed sales tax legislation for Mecklenburg County. The proceeds from the sales tax would help fund the cost of building the Red Line which would stop in Cornelius. “I am strongly opposed to the current […]
Cornelius may rejoin LKN transportation alliance
April 25. With Red Line discussions well under way, Cornelius appears ready to rejoin the regional Lake Norman Transportation Commission headed up by former Mooresville Mayor Bill Thunberg. “We plan to rejoin pending Town Board vote which I expect will pass,” said Mayor Woody Washam. “I am confident we will be stronger together as we […]
Norfolk Southern says it’s open to discussing Red Line commuter rail to LKN on O Line
Oct. 19. By Dave Yochum. Norfolk Southern says it is “willing to consider” discussing opening the O Line to commuter rail between Charlotte and Lake Norman. “We have not decided upon what form such a transaction might take, whether an outright sale of the O Line or some variant of a lease,” Norfolk Southern chief […]
