The Metropolitan Transit Committee (MTC) just voted this week 8-1 to continue with the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) North Commuter Line Study.
The MTC is the CATS policy board responsible for reviewing and recommending all long-range public transportation plans.
Voting members include the Mayors of Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville, the Chairman of the Board of Mecklenburg County Commissioners and the regional representative from the North Carolina Board of Transportation.
Earlier last year, the MTC recommended that CATS hire consulting firm WSP to study the best way to build at least 3 more commuter rail lines in Charlotte.
One of their major objectives will be collaborating with Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, and Mooresville to evaluate current transit modes, land-use, and light rail cost vs. values and to gather public feedback.
The $3.2 million study is examining possible routes for the Lynx Gold Line west to the airport, and the Silver Line southeast to Matthews. It’s now expected to be completed in December.
WSP is currently about one-third of the way through their study, which should be finished at the end of 2018.
The next MTC meeting will be held next month, on April 25th. A major second round of Red Line public input hearings will take place early spring or summer of 2019.