Silver Line rail system expected to be as long as Blue Line

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Last month, the Metropolitan Transit Committee unanimously approved updates to the 2030 Transit Corridor System plan for Charlotte’s light rail system, which would include a stop at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

[Updated plan to extend light rail to surrounding areas approved]

“We decided it made sense to just connect the Silver Line into one continuous line from Matthews through uptown and out to the areas surrounding the airport,” said John Lewis, CEO of the Charlotte Area Transit System.

The cost for taxpayers and how long it will take is not known.

“The next phase is to take it into a level of design where we can put a realistic price and then, frankly, have a conversation with the community about their willingness to continue to invest in our rail system, so we can move it into construction and deliver it by the 2030 goal,” Lewis said.

The Silver Line is expected to be about the same length as the entire Blue Line, which runs nearly 19 miles from Interstate 485 in southwest Charlotte to UNC Charlotte.

The Blue Line was built in two parts. The second part from uptown to UNCC took 4 years and cost $1.16 billion.

Tens of millions of taxpayer dollars helped pay for it, along with federal grants and other funds from the state of North Carolina.

The Silver Line won’t take long to complete, Lewis said.

“Typically, a project of this magnitude will be between 18-24 months,” Lewis said.

CATS said the next step in the process would be defining where rail stations would be.

Officials with CATS hope to get feedback from the community and start working on it this summer.

Cox Media Group