Charlotte engineers: Streetcar debuts in 2015
Written by Douglas John BowenAn initial 1.5 miles of Charlotte, N.C.'s planned 10-mile streetcar line will begin operating by March 2015, city engineers told residents and local media Thursday evening.
North Carolina’s potential first modern-day streetcar route addition would begin by using three city-owned Gomaco replica trolley cars, pending the addition of more, and possibly more modern-looking, equipment.
The initial 1.5 miles, including six stops, will link the streetcar with Charlotte Area Transit System’s (CATS) LYNX Blue Line light rail at Charlotte Transportation Center (adjacent to Time Warner Cable Arena); the streetcar, running along Trade Street, will also serve Central Piedmont Community College and Presbyterian Hospital. CATS will operate the streetcar line.
City engineers hope to break ground to complete the first segment in December. Another public meeting to update the plan is scheduled for November.
