CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Traffic back-ups and lack of parking have become a somewhat frustrating complaint for people who live, work or play in Charlotte's NoDa neighborhood.

Stakeholders in that community believe the newest portion of the LYNX Blue Line Extension will help ease some of the impacts of a fast growing neighborhood.

Freddy Leon, a NoDa street artist, doesn't need much to create art. Just a street corner, a canvas, and some spray paint cans. "It comes straight from my head," Leon explained.

For the last two years he's spent each Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the intersection of N. Davidson and E. 35th Street in NoDa. "It makes me feel like New York," Leon added.

It’s a common complaint now that NoDa is up and coming. "There isn't a lot of parking in NoDa," co-owner of Crown Station Mike Dawson said.

Teresa Hernandez, owner of the Pura Vida boutique, points to NoDa’s high desirability for a cause. "There's just not a lot of supply in terms of parking spots," Hernandez thinks.

It leads to frustration if you're trying to get to work, home, or just a night on the town. "Often you have to go in circles,” Hernandez said. “10, 15, 20 minutes to find a parking spot and maybe park two, three blocks away."

"Public transportation is definitely a must," Dawson added.

It's why business owners and residents in NoDa have high hopes for the BLE's 36th Street station. "I think it's gonna help a hundred percent," Leon said. "They'll just say I'll just take the light rail to go to NoDa and don't have to worry about finding a parking spot," Hernandez added.

But it appears this first weekend for the northeast route of the light rail includes a learning curve.

Earlier this year, the City of Charlotte Department of Transportation launched a 2-week pilot program to address parking issues. It included converting on-street parking into "loading zones only." The stepped-up enforcement also included citing illegally parked vehicles.

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