The Charlotte City Council voted Tuesday to acquire railroad tracks for the future Red Line commuter rail service. The $91 million purchase of the O-Line tracks from Norfolk Southern.
The plan allocates $74 million for the purchase of 22 miles of rail corridor between Uptown Charlotte and the Mecklenburg County line, with 10 stations planned along the route through Charlotte Gateway Station, Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, and Mooresville. An additional $17 million will go toward acquiring 1.6 acres of land along Graham Street for the future Gateway Station.
Gateway Station will serve as a transportation hub, linking Amtrak, the Red Line, Gold Line streetcars, and buses.
BIG WIN FOR TRANSIT IN CHARLOTTE
City Council voted to buy Norfolk Southern’s O-Line tracks, moving us closer to building the Red Line from Uptown to Mooresville
This also (hopefully) brings us one step closer to getting a train stop at Camp North End! pic.twitter.com/trF2QLVIAy
— Tesho Akindele (@Tesho13) September 4, 2024
The agreement is seen as a step forward in restoring trust with northern Mecklenburg communities, who have awaited passenger rail service for over two decades.
This week’s vote could also lead to further transit initiatives in Charlotte’s 2030 regional transit plan.
