Progress on Red Line as Charlotte readies acquisition of Norfolk Southern’s O Line
July 30. By Dave Yochum. The Red Line is gaining steam on two separate tracks: Charlotte City Council is expected to close on the Red Line in September and it appears likely NC legislators will allow Mecklenburg County to put a one-cent sales tax on the ballot in November of 2025 to help fund the undertaking that has been more than 20 years in the making.
The transaction with Norfolk Southern—owners of the rarely used tracks and rights of way—should occur in about a month, according to Cornelius Mayor Woody Washam.
Mayor Washam
“Initial funding for that should come from Charlotte for that purchase,” he said.
Final planning and the push for the Red Line through our communities has been a major challenge for Washam over the past three or four years.
‘Near the finish line’
“We are near the finish line with many substantial and successful negotiations now in place,” Washam said, explaining that Cornelius is playing a major role in this process as well as with the General Assembly.
The ride from Uptown to Mooresville would take about 45 minutes, virtually a guaranteed length of time—unlike traveling on I-77.
“We are hopefully nearing legislative action to allow Mecklenburg County citizens to vote on a funding mechanism that will not only bring the Red Line but will provide a major resource of funds to build our much-needed local roads,” Washam added.
Plans for the Red Line stalled in 2013 when Norfolk Southern would not even discuss using their tracks. That’s all changed, with active negotiations under way.
Red Line with 10 stops
There would be 10 stations in all:
Charlotte Gateway Station (Uptown at Trade and Graham streets)
Derita (near West Sugar Creek Road)
Harris/NC 115
Eastfield
Hambright
Huntersville (near Veterans Park)
Sam Furr (the last stop in Huntersville)
Cornelius (Catawba Avenue and South Main Street)
Davidson (Jackson and Depot street)
Mount Mourne (near Lake Norman Regional Medical Center)
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What is the expected total cost to taxpayers to get the Red Line up and running? What is the value of the benefit in 2024 terms? Any value other than “It feels right to give billions to inefficient local governments to build a single-track slow moving train transit option”? Will a cost/benefit analysis be published before the 2025 tax vote?
Total cost? That would require honesty with taxpayers prior to the sales tax vote, don’t hold your breath.
The most recent cost estimate for commuter rail can be found with the Raleigh Durham commuter rail project which equated to roughly $73M per mile. However, if the existing Norfolk Southern easement is able to be procured at reasonable cost, the Commuter rail cost per mile for the Red Line could be less.
The Norfolk Southern right of way is essential for any future transit alternative, however, commuter rail may not be the most cost effective, or practical transit option. See actual costs for a new system of underground tunnels with dedicated electric shuttles being built in Las Vegas here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Convention_Center_Loop#:~:text=Safety%20and%20Health.-,System,(12%20m)%20below%20ground.
How long will it be before we can ride from Mt Mourne to the Airport?
You can’t get there from here.
Not if we don’t ask for it.
The Red Line should be the Airport line. The ridership would be much higher.
Zero plans on how this is going to be paid for knowing a one cent sales tax won’t come close, especially since Charlotte will likely be limited by the NCGA to a cap of 40% spending on rail, yet Washam could care less about imposing a greater tax burden on everyone in north Mecklenburg. Cornelius deserves better.
Eric, the 40% cap for transit spending on proceeds from a sale tax increase could yield $5.4 Billion. Divide the number of miles of transit we would like to build (roughly 60 miles for the Red, Silver and Blue line extension. This means we must find a fast, convenient and efficient transit alternative that costs $90 million or less per mile to build.
1. The Blue Line extension of 9.3 miles cost $1.1B in 2018. That’s $118M/mile six years ago.
No way anything gets built today for less than $150M/mile, so the $90M/mile figure is fiction.
2. The transit tax is estimated to generate $340M annually. At 40%, it would take nearly 100 years to fund Charlotte’s $13.5B transit plan… and that’s BEFORE detailed cost estimates.
3. Federal funding were not available for the Red Line in 2013 because ridership estimates are too low. Not much as changed except government largesse.
Lots of talk about the “original plan,” yet the original plan had the transportation hub at CLT, not Uptown. Seems it would have made infinitely more sense in its original form. Let’s compare apples to apples, folks.
The Red line should be able to take passengers directly to the Airport terminals without transfers. If we want it, we must ask for it.