Northeast Charlotte LYNX Route Announced

The Charlotte Area Transit System announced the preferred route for the next leg of the light rail line through Northeast Charlotte at Monday night’s city council meeting.

CATS wants the Blue line extension to follow the railroad tracks between Uptown and University City and catch up with North Tryon Street at Old Concord Road, not at Dorton Street.

The two possible route are only a few blocks apart, but transit officials said the Old Concord plan is better because drivers can make easier turns, CATS wouldn't have to buy as many pieces of land, the trains would draw more attention, and construction would cost about $57 million less.

People who own businesses in that area don't like the Dorton plan either and are pleased with the announcement.

Phil Jackson Used Cars and Garage owner Debbie Thomas said, "It would devastate my business. I wouldn't have folks that could come in and out and cross the streets as they can today. It would be terrible."

Engineers plan to wrap up the design phase by October. Then, officials will decide whether to actually build the line.

Transit officials are also getting a more realistic idea of what it would take to build the line. At first, they guessed the project would cost about $750 million and wrap up in 2013. Now, it looks like the project would cost closer to $900 million and take two more years to build.

CATS should know even more in April. Engineers have less than 15-percent of the design phase completed.

The line would also include another UNC Charlotte stop and a hospital station.