Blue Line Extension

PUBLIC MEETINGS:  Presentations and Meeting Summaries

BLE Public Meetings May 2, 3 & 4, 2017

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will hold three public meetings on May 2, 3 & 4, 2017 to present information on the Blue Line Extension. CATS staff will inform the community on the progress of the extension, answer questions, and share the overall vision for the alignment. Additionally, various City and State departments will be present to discuss local projects.

BLE Public Meetings October 11, 12 & 13, 2016 

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) held three public meetings on October 11,12 & 13, 2016 to present information on the Blue Line Extension. CATS staff informed the community on the progress of the extension, answered questions, and shared the overall vision for the alignment. Additionally, various City and State departments were present to discuss local projects.

BLE Public Meetings May 3 & 5, 2016 

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) held two public meetings on May 3 & 5, 2016 to present information on the Blue Line Extension. CATS staff informed the community on the progress of the extension, answered questions, and shared the overall vision for the alignment. Additionally, various City and State departments were present to discuss local projects.

BLE Business Owner and Public Meetings - May - July 2013

CATS and BLE project team members hosted several meetings to provide information about the LYNX Blue Line Extension project and share the upcoming construction schedule. Team members provided several methods of communication so you can stay informed throughout the project construction.  Below are the presentations from these meetings.

You may register to receive electronic public meeting updates by clicking the Notify Me icon below:

Here are some ways you can choose to stay informed of project updates, construction plans and future detours. Two new social media sites dedicated to BLE information are ready for your use to give you the most up to date information and answer your questions.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatsBlueLineExtensionUpdates

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLEupdates

If you prefer to go online, you can visit www.charlottefuture.com or www.ridetransit.org​ to connect with BLE project information, rapid transit planning and future construction information.

 

BLE Final EIS Public Meeting - October 11, 2011

CATS and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) Northeast Corridor Light Rail Project is available for public review and comment. The Final EIS addresses the potential transportation and environmental impacts, responds to comments on the Draft EIS and describes the planned mitigation measures.

The BLE team hosted a public meeting to share information about the Final EIS, 65 percent design plans, station site plans and the current schedule for the Blue Line Extension. Maps showing the real estate impacts and environmental impacts were also available for review at the meeting. Maps can be viewed on the BLE Alignment Maps page. 

The FTA requires a minimum of a 30-day review and comment period. CATS distributed the Notice of Availability for the Final EIS and the Final EIS to all interested and affected parties on September 9, 2011; electronic copies of the Final EIS and related technical reports were also made available on CATS’ website. The Notice of Availability was advertised in four local papers of general circulation (La Noticia, Que Pasa, the Charlotte Post and the Charlotte Observer) between September 21-25, 2011. CATS also held a public meeting on October 11, 2011 to review the findings and proposed mitigation detailed in the Final EIS. The Notice of Availability appeared in the Federal Register on October 14, 2011, which initiates the mandatory 30-day period for public review and comment. Written comments were received through Monday, November 14, 2011. The Final EIS is available electronically on CATS Final EIS web page. 

View the presentation*:

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*Please note, due to the Notice of Availability appearing in the Federal Register on October 14, 2011, the public comment period will now close on Monday, November 14, 2011.

BLE Real Estate Impacts Public Meeting - September 27, 2011

CATS' BLE team, along with City of Charlotte Engineering and Property Management Real Estate staff, hosted a public meeting for property owners and tenants of properties identified as having potential property impacts due to the construction of the BLE. Impacts include temporary or permanent easements and partial or full acquisitions. During the Open House, staff provided information about the real estate acquisition process. Project maps were on display for attendees to review and staff was available to address questions, one-on-one, about impacted properties. Maps can be viewed on the BLE Alignment Maps page. 

Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) Action Item - MTC Meeting - January 26, 2011

The Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) members unanimously approved changes to the BLE project to reduce project costs and ensure its financial feasibility.  The LPA selected for the BLE will begin at Ninth Street in Uptown Charlotte and terminate at UNC Charlotte rather than at I-485, removing 1.2 miles of alignment and two stations.  To accommodate increased ridership at other stations, the project will include a parking deck at the JW Clay Blvd station and a combination of deck and surface parking at the University City Blvd station. Other changes are as follows: service frequency will be slightly reduced; surface lots will be constructed at the Sugar Creek station rather than a parking deck; the park and ride lots at Tom Hunter and McCullough stations will not be built; and the project will not build a Vehicle Light Maintenance Facility at the Norfolk Southern Intermodal site on North Brevard Street, but will construct only a storage yard and dispatch building and up-fit the existing South Boulevard maintenance facility.  Staff will move forward to prepare the Final Environmental Impact Statement for FTA submittal and complete 65% design for the project.

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BLE LPA and Cost Reduction MTC Action Item

BLE Cost Reduction Public Meeting - January 12, 2011

CATS presented recommended project changes to the BLE at the public meeting on Wednesday, January 12, 2011, to reduce the cost of the light rail project.  In order to advance the BLE, project costs need to be lowered by approximately 20 percent.  All aspects of the line are under review to accommodate ridership demand initially and provide flexibility in the future.  One proposed change is to end the line on the UNC Charlotte campus and not extend the line to I-485.  By shortening the project, CATS is able to keep key project elements that ensure a high quality system, reliable service, and safe and secure operations.

View the Presentation:

View the Cost Reduction Exhibits:

Proposed Blue Line Extension Alignment

Proposed UNC Charlotte Terminus

Proposed Sugar Creek Station​

Proposed University City Blvd Station (6.3 MB)

Proposed Vehicle Storage Yard and Maintenance Facility

BLE Draft EIS Public Hearing - September 22, 2010

BLE Draft EIS Public Hearing Presentation - September 22, 2010

BLE Draft Environmental Impact Statement and 30% Design Review - September 9 & 14, 2010​

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