CATS says Blue Line could open in late 2016 or early 2017

With so much attention on the Red Line, the proposed $452 million commuter/freight line from Charlotte to Lake Norman, less attention is being paid to the Blue Line extension from Charlotte to UNCC and on into Cabarrus. Nevertheless, the Charlotte Area Transit System expects roughly two-thirds of the project design to be done by this fall.

COX

John Cox, CEO of the Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce, says the economy is to blame for cost trimming that ultimately shortened the line. Originally estimated to cost $1.12 billion, the Blue Line Extension was shortened by 1.2 miles of track and two stations north of UNC Charlotte, heading toward Concord. It means buses will carry passengers over or under I-485 to Cabarrus destinations like Charlotte Motor Speedway.

CATS says the line could open in late 2016 or early 2017, according to Kelly R. Goforth, project development manager for the Charlotte Area Transit System. The Federal Transit Administration signed and granted the Blue Line Extension a “Record of Decision” in December of 2011 because it met environmental considerations.

The Record of Decision states the project is approved, that it can proceed into the final design phase and that CATS can acquire rights-of-way.

The next major step is attaining a Full Funding Grant Agreement from the Federal Transit Administration, which means the federal government would fund half of the cost needed to build the Blue Line Extension. State and local funds would make up the remaining half. (Because ridership numbers are forecast to be so low for the proposed Red Line, it is not eligible for federal funding.)

Getting the Blue Line Extension over or under I-485 and into Cabarrus County is another story. Cabarrus County has not imposed a half-cent sales tax, Cox said. The political will to do so, given the uncertainty of the recession, doesn’t exist.