Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Region IV Administrator Yvette Taylor, city of Charlotte Mayor Daniel Clodfelter, Mecklenburg County Commission and Metropolitan Transit Commission Chairman Trevor Fuller and Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) CEO Carolyn Flowers will commemorate the beginning of the Lynx Blue Line Station capacity expansion project on July 9, at the Lynx Stonewall Station.
CATS and the city of Charlotte received an $18 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery III (TIGER III) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for capacity enhancements along the Lynx Blue Line, increasing the number of power substations and lengthening platforms to accommodate three-car trains.
“We are celebrating the success of the Lynx Blue Line,” said Clodfelter. “Investing in public transit means more than moving people; it provides access to jobs, access to higher educational institutions, health care facilities, entertainment venues and more.” The Lynx Blue Line has attracted more than $1.4 billion in new private development, creating construction jobs, building affordable housing and providing a congestion-free commute to a strong and vibrant Center City.
“This is another testament of how the Charlotte region supports public transit,” said Fuller. “This grant allows CATS to upgrade the Blue Line’s capacity to accommodate more riders and prepare for future growth when the Blue Line Extension opens.” “Our customers have made the Lynx Blue Line a success, with more than 32 million trips since opening in 2007,” Flowers said. “We appreciate that the community has embraced the service, not only for their daily commute, but also for transportation to and from special events in Center City.” The City’s many special events fueled the need to expand to three-car trains with 60 percent of non-peak and weekend Lynx riders using light rail to attend special events.
