The LYNX Light Rail, Charlotte NC
When introduced in the early 1980's the initial vision of the light rail project was to further connect the growing UNC Charlotte and the also growing Uptown area of Charlotte. After many years of debate and revisions the project was approved and work was started on the southern portion of the rail, going south from Uptown all the way to I-485. Ground was broken in 2005 and the projected was completed in 2007, with the final cost of the project costing 462 million dollars. Find homes for sale in Charlotte NC now. In the first day of operation alone, approximately 60,000 riders used the new service. Though ridership has slowed a little since its inception the growing population should start to push ridership up in the future.
Fast-forward to 2017 and the north portion of the light rail remains about a year out from its completion. The north addition of the line was begun and 2013 and begins in Uptown Charlotte, and ends on the north side of the UNC Charlotte campus. When completed the northern portion of the rail will be approximately 9.7 miles long, with 11 stations along its route. The extension is scheduled to begin its service to the northern Charlotte region in December of 2017, or sooner if all goes as planned. The cost of this extension of the line well exceeded the cost of the original south bound track, costing a total of nearly 560 million dollars. Between the two rails combined this has turned into a billion dollar project for the Charlotte region.
The ultimate goal of the light rail project in general is to create a transportation infrastructure that is capable of supporting some of the growing transportation needs of a rapidly growing Charlotte. In all there will be 20 stations when the north track is completed, effectively doubling the stops that can be reached via the light rail. Currently, on the south line approximately 15,800 riders use the light rail daily. Search homes for sale in Charlotte NC near The LYNX Light Rail stations now. Expect this number to grow immensely once the north track is completed and the north side of Charlotte continues to grow in population. When the south portion of the rail went in, not only did it provide an efficient means of mass transit, but it also triggered a development boom around the line.
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