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What eight years with a light rail tells us about planning for Charlotte’s future

By Liz Bertrand

Last week, Charlotte’s LYNX Blue Line turned eight. And as most 8-year-olds will tell you, we shouldn’t take them for granted. Charlotteans took a risk back in 2007 and that investment has changed the way we live, commute and hang out in the Queen City. So, what lessons can we take from the light rail saga as we look toward Charlotte’s future?

A controversial start

Several weeks before its scheduled opening, a ballot referendum threatened to repeal a half-cent sales tax needed to fund the light rail. Recall supporters cited higher than expected construction costs and argued taxpayer money would be better spent improving roads. Fortunately, the referendum was defeated by a large majority.

“World-class cities need to have world-class transit,” said Allison Billings, vice president for Neighborhood Development, Transportation & Sustainability at Charlotte Center City Partners. “Building the Blue Line was the first step.”

On opening day, my husband and I joined the crowds testing out the new line. There wasn’t much to see along the route – a far cry from today’s bustling gastro pubs, breweries and condos. Most of us couldn’t have imagined how the light rail could shape the destiny of this funky neighborhood.

Eight years later, we can see how it all played out:

– $7 billion in real estate and business investment in South End.

– Uptown/South End was named the nation’s fastest-growing apartment sub-market last year by “Property Management Insider.”

– Average weekday ridership on the Blue Line as of last month hovered at 15,916, according to CATS Public and Community Relations manager Krystel Green.

– “Charlotte is a model,” Billings said. “We host other cities all the time… specifically to see our transit-oriented development.”

– New development has brought more people to the area day and night, said Kelly Busher, manager of South End’s Phat Burrito. He’s also looking forward to the Blue Line extension slated to open in 2017: “We’ll be connected to NoDA and UNCC and so many other things.”

What’s next:

The 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan, adopted by the city in 2006, envisions an expanded transportation network with 25 miles of commuter rail, 21 miles of light rail, 16 miles of streetcar, and 14 miles of bus rapid transit. While a few projects have secured total or partial funding, Billings said most of these projects will require public-private partnerships to make them a reality.

Hopefully, South End’s success story will inspire us to make these projects a reality and transform our city into an even better place to live. We can’t predict Charlotte’s future but we can choose to invest in it.

Photo: Liz Bertrand

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 10:00 PM with the headline "What eight years with a light rail tells us about planning for Charlotte’s future."

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