CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Charlotte City Council approved a new phase Monday night in the lead-up to the planned Red Line.
The city is putting $1.5 million into the design work to bring the design phase to 30 percent completion. It brings the new total value of the contract with HDR Engineering to $43.2 million.
The 25-mile commuter line, which will run from uptown Charlotte north to Davidson, has the potential to expand into Iredell County.
Construction of the Red Line is being funded through the one-percent sales tax increase Mecklenburg County voters approved in November.
The council members noted that per the PAVE Act, 50 percent of the Red Line design must be done before any other project can be completed.
“The Red Line is so critically important for the rest of the work to get done,” said Councilwoman Dante Anderson. “I’m excited about this for the community, and excited to advance our mobility plan. This is actually a really, really good step.”
The Red Line is planned to run along the O-line that the city acquired last year from Norfolk Southern.
Councilman Ed Driggs praised City Manager Marcus Jones for closing the deal ahead of the referendum’s passage in November.
“I have to give him credit for brilliance. Without that, none of the rest of it would’ve happened,” Driggs said.
The 30 percent design phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Bus service to Rock Hill continues
The Charlotte Area Transit System will continue its bus service to Rock Hill.
The Rock Hill Express (82X) service from Uptown was initially approved in 2022, but the five-year contract is coming to an end in June.
As part of the Metropolitan Transit Commission’s (MTC) adopted financial policies, the City of Rock Hill reimburses Charlotte for 50 percent of the net operating expenses, including overhead. The total operating expenditures for the service are estimated at $330,000.
From the Charlotte Transportation Center, the route has two more uptown stops, then stops outside Carowinds, Baxter Village in Fort Mill, and has two Rock Hill stops at Manchester Cinemas and near City Hall.
Charlotte leaders tout the service reducing single-occupancy vehicles and helps with congestion and air quality.
