Lynx Blue Line

Lynx Blue Line
A Blue and gray train with black glass stands idle with overhead wires and adjoining building visible.
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerCharlotte Area Transit System
LocaleCharlotte, North Carolina
Termini
Stations26
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemCharlotte Area Transit System
Operator(s)Charlotte Area Transit System
Depot(s)South Boulevard Facility
North Brevard Facility
Rolling stockSiemens S70
Daily ridership27,700 (Q4 2020)[1]
History
CommencedFebruary 26, 2005 (2005-02-26TMDY)
OpenedNovember 24, 2007 (2007-11-24TMDY)
ExtensionMarch 16, 2018 (2018-03-16TMDY)
Technical
Line length19.3 mi (31.1 km)
Number of tracks2
CharacterGrade-separated
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 750 V DC
Operating speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Highest elevation801 ft (244 m)
Route map

Legend
 UNC Charlotte–Main
Toby Creek
US 29.svg
US 29
North Tryon Street
 JW Clay Blvd/UNC Charlotte
McCullough
University City Blvd
Tom Hunter
Old Concord Road
Sugar Creek
36th Street
25th Street
North Brevard Light Rail Facility
 Parkwood
I-277.svg
I-277
Brookshire Freeway
 9th Street
7th Street
 Gold Line 
 Charlotte Transportation Center
3rd Street/Convention Center
Brooklyn Village
I-277.svg
I-277
John Belk Freeway
 Carson
Bland Street
East/West Boulevard
South End
planned
2026
Charlotte Trolley
 New Bern
South Boulevard Light Rail Facility
 Scaleybark
Woodlawn
Tyvola
Archdale
Arrowood
Sharon Road West
I-485/South Boulevard
This diagram:

The Lynx Blue Line is a light rail line in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Opened in 2007, it was the first rail line of the Charlotte Area Transit System,[2] and the first major rapid rail service of any kind in the state. The 26-station, 19.3-mile (31.1 km) line extends from its northern terminus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in University City through NoDa, Uptown, and South End, then runs along South Boulevard to its southern terminus just north of Interstate 485 at the Pineville city limits.[2][3] The line carries an average of over 27,700 passenger trips every day and offers connections to the CATS' CityLynx Gold Line which opened in 2015.[1]

The first phase of the line opened on November 24, 2007[2][4] between I-485/South Boulevard and 7th Street.[2] It began operating nearly seventy years after the previous Charlotte streetcar system was dismantled in 1938 in favor of motorized bus transit.[3][5] An extension from 7th Street, following a northeast path along the existing Norfolk Southern right-of-way along both North Davidson Street and North Tryon Street, to University City and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) opened on March 16, 2018.[6]

  1. ^ a b "Public Transportation Ridership Report, Fourth Quarter 2020" (PDF). Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Harrison, Steve (November 24, 2007). "A momentous arrival: After opening-day hoopla, what's ahead for Lynx?". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A.
  3. ^ a b "LYNX Blue Line South Corridor Light Rail Project Description". Charlotte Area Transit System. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
  4. ^ Harrison, Steve; Valle, Kristen (November 25, 2007). "Light rail, heavy traffic: Thousands wait in lines for a free ride on 1st day". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A. Available at Red Orbit Archived August 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Rhee, Foon (January 19, 1988). "Is a light rail system in Charlotte's future?". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B.
  6. ^ "Charlotte announces opening date for light rail expansion". The News & Observer. January 9, 2018. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.