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City approves $14.8 million to expand CATS rail yard

CATS will also be hosting virtual public meetings discussing proposed routes on the project next month.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council voted Monday to spend $14.8 million to expand the city's light rail maintenance facilities near Charlotte's NoDa neighborhood.

The land, which consists of 17.88 acres currently part of the larger Norfolk-Southern rail yard north of Uptown Charlotte, will give Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) more room to store and maintain trains. The land is adjacent to the current LYNX Blue Line and its North Brevard Light Rail Facility, which the city originally purchased from Norfolk-Southern in 2014.

The new land would also be envisioned to serve the proposed Lynx Silver Line project, which calls for a new 29-mile, 31-station light rail from the city of Belmont in Gaston county, through Uptown Charlotte and on toward Union County. 

Key stops are expected to include Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Bojangles Coliseum, and the town of Matthews.

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In 2009, the city had the option to buy the entire Norfolk-Southern yard, which stretches for over a mile from approximately 16th Street to Mattheson Ave (which becomes 30th Street.) At the time, the city decided not to buy the entire facility due to financial constraints.

As planning efforts continue on the LYNX Silver Line project, CATS will also be hosting virtual public meetings discussing proposed routes on the project next month.

  • Visit Charlotte Area Transit System - YouTube to watch the Live Virtual Public Meetings

  • Fall 2022 Online Open House Coming Soon

  • LYNX Silver Line Live Virtual Public Meeting – Tuesday, Nov. 1, 5:30 pm; Meeting Link and call-in number coming soon

  • LYNX Silver Line Live Virtual Public Meeting – Wednesday, Nov. 2, noon; Meeting Link and call-in number coming soon

Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram. 

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