City leaders discuss ‘Red Line' transit alternative

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The gateway station would be located in uptown Charlotte but it would impact people even in places like Davidson.

The mayor here and other leaders said Friday their mission is to show cities and counties around Charlotte just how important the project is.

"We don't have roads for existing people let alone those coming. We have to build alternate transit,” Davidson Mayor John Wood said.

That's why Woods has pushed for the commuter rail project called the “Red Line.”

Last week we told you about new steps to move it forward. But those steps are futile without the transportation hub it will connect to in uptown called the “Gateway Station.”

"Without that hub the system won't work,” Woods said.

The station would connect retail with all forms of mass transit.

This week Woods and other leaders traveled to Denver to tour a similar project there called "Union Station.”

“In Denver they had 42 mayors sign onto the plan. I think we can do that in Charlotte,” Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said.

Leaders said that unity is exactly what it will take in Charlotte.

They'll use a recent $25 million federal grant to build the Gateway Station’s infrastructure. But they'll need millions more, possibly through grants, tax revenue and public private partnerships.

"Denver was all in. They already had a six-tenths of a penny. They went to a whole penny of sales tax across eight counties," Michael Smith with Charlotte Center City Partners said.

Advocates are working to get that "all-in attitude" in Charlotte.

"Once they see the vision. They'll be very supportive,” Smith said.

Woods is working with state and federal leaders to push the “Red Line” forward and coming up with short-term solutions.

"That will use express bus service to Charlotte from (the) north corridor,” Woods said.

About three dozen people went on the trip to Denver. They'll meet up again soon to talk about the best way to communicate the gateway message to people in surrounding cities and counties.

Cox Media Group