Light-rail delays cost an extra $950,000

Problems with a contractor will force the Charlotte Area Transit System to spend an additional $950,000 to upgrade capacity on the light-rail line.

In April 2014, the City Council awarded a $16.5 million contract with Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, mostly to expand four Lynx Blue Line stations so they can handle three-car trains instead of the standard two-car trains.

The construction was supposed to be finished in September. But the city said the project was delayed due to “changes in contract management, additional work added to the project and insufficient contractor resources.”

The city hopes the work will be finishedby the end of June.

Atlanta-based Balfour Beatty Infrastructure could not be reached for comment.

City Council on Monday approved spending the extra money on the consultant overseeing the project, STV Engineers Inc. The city said it is withholding money from Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, which could defray some of the increased costs.

Crowded trains

The station platforms today are only long enough to handle two-car trains. During rush hour and some special events like Panthers games, Lynx trains are extremely crowded.

The transit system’s plan is to slowly lengthen station platforms in time for the opening of the $1.1 billion Lynx extension to UNC Charlotte, in the summer of 2017.

When the extension opens, the Lynx will often operate with three-car trains.

Balfour Beatty Infrastructure’s work includes installing four new power substations, which are needed because the three-car trains need more power. In addition, the contractor is lengthening the platforms at four stations: Seventh Street, Stonewall, Woodlawn and I-485/South Boulevard.

When the project was announced, CATS said it was considering operating three-car express trains that would operate from Seventh Street to the I-485/South Boulevard station.

CATS said that probably will not happen.

Next phase

CATS said Tuesday it has received permission from the Federal Transit Administration to begin design work for the other 11 stations, a project that will cost millions of dollars.

That project is estimated to cost $40.25 million. The federal government is being asked to pay for $24.15 million, and CATS would pay the rest.

It is possible the platform work at the other 11 stations will not be finished when the extension opens in the summer 2017. That would mean CATS would have to open the new rail line with two-car trains instead of three-car trains.

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Light-rail delays cost an extra $950,000."