The BLE: What's Been Happening? How Much Will It

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Featuring the LYNX Blue Line Extension Line Blue LYNX the Featuring CHARLOTTE NC News From The Charlotte Area Transit System Transit Area Charlotte The From News PERMIT 34

600 East Fourth Street • Charlotte, NC 28202

Continued on back cover back on Continued

ty to design the alignment into the university’s campus to minimize the impact to the to impact the minimize to campus university’s the into alignment the design to ty

Charlotte campus. Charlotte

During the first phase of preliminary engineering, CATS has worked with the universi- the with worked has CATS engineering, preliminary of phase first the During

under N. Tryon St. to enter onto UNC onto enter to St. Tryon N. under

The BLE light rail project will cross will project rail light BLE The

university-related development. university-related

and a station at Mallard Creek Church Rd where the university is envisioning future envisioning is university the where Rd Church Creek Mallard at station a and

dium, a station directly on campus along Cameron Blvd near the new Student Union, Student new the near Blvd Cameron along campus on directly station a dium,

tion at JW Clay Blvd near the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) and future football sta- football future and (CRI) Institute Research Charlotte the near Blvd Clay JW at tion

BLE project will serve the UNC Charlotte campus with multiple stations, including a sta- a including stations, multiple with campus Charlotte UNC the serve will project BLE

the planning and design of the LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) light rail project. The project. rail light (BLE) Extension Line Blue LYNX the of design and planning the

Over the past several years, CATS has worked closely with UNC Charlotte officials in officials Charlotte UNC with closely worked has CATS years, several past the Over

Campus Shifts Campus

Light Rail Line onto UNC Charlotte UNC onto Line Rail Light

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would require additional rail vehicles in the fleet and extending the station platforms station the extending and fleet the in vehicles rail additional require would

CATS is investigating the possibility of using three-car trains, instead of two. This two. of instead trains, three-car using of possibility the investigating is CATS

ment. News From The Charlotte Area Transit System

Charlotte’s next light rail line to serve more people in a pleasant and safer environ- safer and pleasant a in people more serve to line rail light next Charlotte’s Featuring The LYNX Blue Line Extension

tional grade separations into the project. These project enhancements will allow will enhancements project These project. the into separations grade tional

increased right-of-way to improve sidewalks and planting strips, and designing addi- designing and strips, planting and sidewalks improve to right-of-way increased

enhancements include additional parking at the end-of-the-line parking deck, parking end-of-the-line the at parking additional include enhancements

expanded since the completion of the conceptual design phase. New project New phase. design conceptual the of completion the since expanded

pus and provides convenient connections for students, faculty, and visitors. and faculty, students, for connections convenient provides and pus

2007, has influenced the BLE project design. The scope of the BLE project has project BLE the of scope The design. project BLE the influenced has 2007,

dinate with UNC Charlotte to develop a design that is integrated with the cam- the with integrated is that design a develop to Charlotte UNC with dinate

The success and high demand for the LYNX Blue Line, which opened in November in opened which Line, Blue LYNX the for demand high and success The

lanes of N. Tryon St. As the project moves forward, CATS will continue to coor- to continue will CATS forward, moves project the As St. Tryon N. of lanes

drop below the existing street elevation and cross under the northbound travel northbound the under cross and elevation street existing the below drop

allowed CATS to make adjustments, providing the best project for the community. community. the for project best the providing adjustments, make to CATS allowed

Research Dr. Light rail is now proposed to cross this intersection at-grade, then at-grade, intersection this cross to proposed now is rail Light Dr. Research

Transportation (NCDOT), and UNC Charlotte. Focusing on early coordination has coordination early on Focusing Charlotte. UNC and (NCDOT), Transportation

shift is feasible and would also eliminate the grade separation at the UNCC the at separation grade the eliminate also would and feasible is shift

phase with our partners, the railroads, the North Carolina Department of Department Carolina North the railroads, the partners, our with phase

imize the developable property on the CRI campus. CATS determined that this that determined CATS campus. CRI the on property developable the imize

Commission (MTC). CATS has worked to achieve coordination early in the design the in early coordination achieve to worked has CATS (MTC). Commission

Public Meetings Public the university requested that CATS shift the alignment onto campus north to max- to north campus onto alignment the shift CATS that requested university the 4

ect update, schedule, and cost estimate to City Council and the Metropolitan Transit Metropolitan the and Council City to estimate cost and schedule, update, ect

university’s update to its Campus Master Plan. As a result of this coordination, this of result a As Plan. Master Campus its to update university’s

nary design for the 11 mile light rail project in April 2009. Staff presented the proj- the presented Staff 2009. April in project rail light mile 11 the for design nary

posed station location along Cameron Blvd. CATS is also coordinating with the with coordinating also is CATS Blvd. Cameron along location station posed

In the Community the In 3

The LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) project team completed the 15 percent prelimi- percent 15 the completed team project (BLE) Extension Line Blue LYNX The

campus environment while providing a direct, efficient connection to the pro- the to connection efficient direct, a providing while environment campus

this anyway? this

cont. Shifts Campus Station

Rail to Improve Light Rail Light Improve to Rail Light Rail Line onto UNC Charlotte Charlotte UNC onto Line Rail Light

call CATS at 704-336-RIDE (7433). 704-336-RIDE at CATS call much will it cost? And, who’s paying for paying who’s And, cost? it will much

CATS Partners with NCDOT with Partners CATS 2 visit the CATS website at: www.ridetransit.org or www.ridetransit.org at: website CATS the visit

For more information on rapid transit planning, transit rapid on information more For The BLE: What’s been happening? How happening? been What’s BLE: The

Art-in-Transit Goes Digital Goes Art-in-Transit 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm pm 8:00 – pm 6:00 2

604 Doug Mayes Place Place Mayes Doug 604 by clicking on E-mail Updates. E-mail on clicking by www.ridetransit.org

the electronic subscription service at: at: service subscription electronic the

Oasis Shriner’s Center Center Shriner’s Oasis

Blue Line Extension Line Blue

To receive project updates via e-mail, sign up for up sign e-mail, via updates project receive To Summer/Fall 2009 Summer/Fall

September 30, 2009 2009 30, September

Kathy Cornett Kathy Manager: Project Land-Use

Fellowship Hall – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm pm 8:00 – pm 6:00 – Hall Fellowship

Danny Rogers Danny Manager: Project

101 West Sugar Creek Road Road Creek Sugar West 101

Judy Dellert-O’Keef Judy Editor:

Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church Church Presbyterian Creek Sugaw

September 29, 2009 2009 29, September Transitions Summer/Fall 2009 Summer/Fall Transitions

PUBLIC MEETINGS PUBLIC Blue Line Extension Line Blue Blue Line Extension

Art-in-Transit Goes Digital In the Community CATS Art-in-Transit conducted its first online call to artists for the LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) Fanta Festival in May, 2009. The digital system, called CaFÉ, is a completely online application and voting CATS staff participated in the Charlotte Fanta Festival, the largest Cinco de Mayo system created by the Western States Art Federation in Denver, Colorado (www.callforentry.org). celebration of the Carolinas, hosted by the Latin American Coalition at McAlpine Last December, CATS surveyed more than 600 artists in its slide registry. A large majority of the Creek Park on Sunday, May 3, 2009. Representatives provided information to fes- artists surveyed preferred a digital process. CaFÉ is free to artists and eliminates the need to tival attendees about the Blue Line Extension project in both English and Spanish. produce and distribute expensive slides of previous work and mail in supplemental materials to Festival attendees also received bilingual printed material to share with friends and compete for art opportunities. When the electronic call closed on June 24, more than 350 artists family and were able to sign-up to receive e-mail notifications and updates about had applied. The art selection panel had a large pool of artists, country-wide, to choose from. the Blue Line Extension light rail project.

All national regions are represented with 26% from the Southeast, 25% from the Northeast, 24% National Night Out from the Southwest, 15% from the Northwest, and 7% from the Midwest. The remaining 3% are Local artists and community members CATS representatives participated in the Hidden Valley National Night Out festival. came out to learn about the art opportu- artists from outside the continental United States. The applicant pool included 15% from the With hundreds of area residents attending, CATS was able to share information Thousands come for a day of fun and information at nities for the Blue Line Extension light Carolinas, with the majority residing in Charlotte. about the Blue Line Extension light rail project and inform the community of the the annual Fanta Festival. rail project. September 29 and 30 public meetings. Bilingual materials were available for atten- On June 26, a panel of five art professionals, appointed by the Art-in-Transit Advisory Committee, dees to take information home or share with friends and neighbors. met to begin the selection process using the new online review and voting system. The panel members were introduced to the system and agreed on the schedule for artists’ selection over the course of three rounds, utilizing the We will come to you. online system from their computers for the first two rounds. In the third and final round of voting, panelists reconvened in person to select and match artists to art opportunities for the BLE project. You can request CATS staff to come speak with your group or organization about the Blue Line Extension project. Just call CATS Customer Service at 704-336-7433 or email [email protected] to reserve a speaker for your group today. The quality of the art represented in the applicant pool was impressive. The panelists match the artists’ talent with the BLE art opportunities. Numerous art opportunities exist for teams and individual artists. Locations where patrons wait for trains provide opportuni- Did you know… ties for art that invites contemplation, while transition sites require art that can be appreciated as patrons move from one place to anoth- CATS will provide translating services upon request for any Blue Line Extension Meeting? CATS will also provide auxiliary aids and er. Some sites are appropriate for place makers or area landmarks. services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons. Anyone requiring special services should contact CATS Customer Service at 704-336-7433. Your request must be confirmed one week prior to the meeting so arrangements can be made. Once the selected artists are under contract, selections will be publicly announced. The Art-in-Transit and BLE project teams are looking forward to working with the selected artists, both locally and from around the country, to incorporate art responsive to the northeast cor- ¿Sabía usted que… ridor community. CATS prooverá servicios de traducción si son solicitados para cualquier reunión pública de la extensión de la línea azul? CATS tam- bién prooverá aparatos auxiliares y servicios bajo el Acta para Americanos con Incapacidades para personas incapacitadas. Cualquier CATS Partners with NCDOT Rail to Improve Light Rail Station persona que requiera de servicios especiales debe contactar el servicio al cliente de CATS al 704-336- 7433. Su petición deberá ser confirmada una semana antes de la reunión pública para que se puedan hacer los preparativos. The Blue Line Extension (BLE) serves many neighborhoods in the Northeast community including NoDa, the historical, cultural and arts district near Uptown Charlotte. NoDa is also affected by NCDOT Rail Division’s high speed rail project. CATS and NCDOT Rail are working closely to locate the station to best serve the neighborhood while preserving the character of the community. The BLE: What’s been happening? cont.

NCDOT Rail Division is planning High Speed Rail, which will travel from Charlotte to Raleigh and ultimately to Washington DC. This to accommodate three cars. Building additional roadway and Administration (FTA) and from the State of North Carolina. The NCDOT project is called the Charlotte Rail Improvement and Safety Project (CRISP). The improvements include building new bridges, pedestrian amenities is another planned enhancement to FFGA will define the federal participation in the project based on establishing a new rail transportation hub in Uptown, realigning rail corridors, establishing new rail connections and closing crossings. improve access and vehicular and pedestrian safety at and the cost estimate at the final design phase. Federal funding is around the stations. expected to cover 50% of the total project cost. The state and NCDOT Rail’s plans for CRISP includes high speed rail running adjacent to CATS’ planned alignment for the BLE in the NoDa area. CATS CATS’ local sales tax money would each contribute 25% of the and NCDOT staff are discussing the best configuration for all the railroad needs within the limited right-of-way, to accommodate the The total project cost ranges from $928 million to $1.12 billion cost. To date, FTA has earmarked a total of $24,950,000 for the varying needs and requirements for freight rail, high speed passenger rail and light rail. depending on the amount of system capacity included and the BLE preliminary design. These funds were approved during 2008 rate of inflation. As with the Blue Line, CATS is seeking a Full and 2009. CATS has received $980,000 in matching funds from The outcome of this focused planning is to design a 36th Street light rail station which includes a grade separation between 36th Street Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) from the Federal Transit the state and has applied for another state match. and the railroad tracks, provides good connectivity, and offers vehicular and pedestrian safety. Another goal is to mitigate noise, safety and traffic concerns between the railroad uses and NoDa residents and visitors. The proposed 36th Street grade separation would Upcoming Activities lower 36th Street under the railroad. The 36th Street Station will be located on the structure over 36th Street and will have direct Publish Draft Environmental Impact Statement Spring 2010 access to NoDa. Complete 30% Design Fall 2010 For more information about NCDOT Rail’s projects visit www.bytrain.org. Prepare Final Environmental Impact Statement Winter 2011 Environmental Record of Decision Spring 2011 News From The Charlotte Area Transit System Featuring the LYNX Blue Line Extension 2 3 Blue Line Extension