Great news for the red line

On Wednesday, October 18, The Charlotte Ledger reported that Norfolk Southern is open to negotiations that would allow the long-delayed Red Line rail project between Charlotte and Mooresville to move forward.

This is a huge development for the proposed LYNX Red Line commuter rail and an extremely important shift on the part of Norfolk Southern and we are thrilled. The Red Line is an essential mobility project that will provide sustainable and equitable transportation that would connect uptown Charlotte to the towns of Huntersville, Mooresville, Davidson, and Cornelius in North Mecklenburg County.

Sustain Charlotte has been advocating for this transit project for years. Last year we created a petition urging Norfolk Southern and NC Railroad to work with CATS to make the Red Line possible. After gathering over 1,700 signatures from local residents we mailed it to them. In light of this new development, we spoke to a number of reporters covering the breakthrough. Following are the stories we contributed to:

• Charlotte to north Mecklenburg rail line dream finds new life in Norfolk Southern letter (Charlotte Observer)
• Norfolk Southern considers selling rail line to city of Charlotte (WBTV)
• Norfolk Southern considering transaction that could bring commuter rail to Lake Norman (WSOC-TV)
• Existing Norfolk Southern Tracks Could Be Used For Northern Mecklenburg Light Rail (WCCB)
• Renewed conversations in decades-old plan to bring passenger train to Lake Norman (WCNC)
• Norfolk Southern says it’s open to discussing Red Line commuter rail to LKN on O Line (Cornelius Today)
• Railway letter renews Red Line discussion (Lake Norman Publications)
• Hopes rise for Lynx Red Line revival and rail connectivity (Charlotte Post)