On November 15, University City’s hopes for rail got a lot further up the track when the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) voted to initiate more comprehensive engineering work in 2007 on both the North Corridor to Davidson and possibly Mt. Mourne and the Northeast Corridor to UNC Charlotte. MTC’s vote signaled an interest in building the Northeast line in one, not two, phases as was originally considered. That could even mean the light rail line might be completed before the last leg of I-485 would open. None-the-less, UNC Charlotte Chancellor Phil Dubois made an exceptional point when speaking to MTC that evening in favor of rail when he questioned, "Can you imagine places like Washington, D.C., or Portland or Salt Lake City without their rail systems? Can you find a city that has ever regretted building one?"
The Northeast Corridor to University City will become an extension of the CATS South line, forming what is being called the LYNX Blue Line. The line received a ridership boost of 2,200 when UNC Charlotte decided to allow rail to enter campus. The daily ridership numbers climbed to a total of 17,500, making the Northeast line the best candidate for a 50% match from the Federal Transit Administration, as had the South line.
University City representatives signed up to speak in favor of both northern lines. While UCP took no stand about the North Corridor, appropriately leaving that decision in MTC’s hands, they did work to line up speakers to enumerate the ability of University City’s commercial core to produce riders for the Northeast Corridor. During previous MTC meetings, it had become apparent that University City’s merits were not being adequately highlighted. November 15 speakers included Chancellor Phil Dubois, City Councilman Michael Barnes, Lowe’s Motor Speedway Humpy Wheeler, CMC University Administrator Spencer Lilly, First Charter Executive Vice President Kevin Toomb, UCP Board Chair George Maloomian, former Cabarrus Chamber President Alex Rankin and Babek Emadi whose firm is active in NoDa developments. Concord Mayor Scott Padgett spoke up for the Northeast Corridor in his role as a non-voting MTC member, while a number of volunteers sent letters, e-mails and made calls to MTC prior to the meeting.
Both northern corridors face hurdles as planning moves ahead. At the MTC meeting, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory spoke of this extended process. "We've been saying, `This is the final vote. This is the big vote.' I think that's been misrepresented. ... I think this is one vote in a process of further study and further examination." Although the North line is less expensive, FTA’s new rules make it harder for commuter rail to compete for a federal match, which means new funding sources need to be lined up. University City must race to retrofit its land uses to be transit supportive with efforts like the Plan Amendment. Right of Way acquisition and some environmental issues will present other challenges. Stay tuned as both northern corridors move along in 2007. Click on the link below to take a look at the transitions.
Northeast Transitions