Charlotte City Council approved the purchase of 22 miles of the O-line right-of-way to move forward with the Red Line commuter rail project, which will connect the northern towns of Mecklenburg County to Uptown Charlotte.
Tuesday evening, all council members except for District 6 Representative Tariq Bokhari voted in favor of purchasing the existing line from Norfolk Southern for $74 million.
With their vote, the council also approved the $17 million purchase of 1.6 acres of property for the Charlotte Gateway Station in Uptown Charlotte.
“After 26 years of effort and dedication, we’ve finally secured the Red Line," Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Initial plans had the line going to Iredell County. Now, the option to expand to Iredell County must be approved by Iredell County and the Town of Mooresville first.
The line will use the existing Norfolk Southern rail line.
The purchase and the project are tied to the revenue from a proposed one-cent transit sales tax. It's something the City of Charlotte and other Mecklenburg County towns will likely request the North Carolina General Assembly to authorize putting on the ballot in Nov. 2025. If the referendum is approved, voters will ultimately decide on whether to support the sales tax increase.
Lyles called the move a "monumental step for the City of Charlotte."
"This achievement is more than just a transportation milestone, it’s about creating new opportunities, driving economic growth, and ensuring that every resident and visitor has access to public transit," Lyles said. "Together, we’ve made this dream a reality, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished for our city’s future."
CATS said stations will function as integrated mobility hubs with bus services and first/last mile connections.
The Red Line plans to provide a direct connection to the Charlotte Gateway Station and the surrounding entertainment district, including the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Knights and Charlotte Football Club.
The Gateway Station will provide connection to the Silver Line Light Rail, the Gold Line Streetcar, Amtrak, and intercity and local bus services, according to CATS.
CATS said benefits of the Red Line include:
- Provides a direct transit service between Uptown Charlotte and the town centers of Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson, extending to Mount Mourne
- Supports traffic reduction along I-77
- Drives economic development along the route
- Creates connections to the Charlotte Gateway Station, including additional transit options and the surrounding entertainment district
- Provides the opportunity for expansion into Iredell County serving key destinations like Lowes Headquarters
- Allows commuters to comfortably work while traveling
Last year, Charlotte City Council voted to use $5 million to redesign the proposed Red Line.
The project was delayed for over a decade mainly because the design used tracks that are owned by Norfolk Southern, and historically, the railroad has been opposed to the idea, Charlotte city leaders said.
“Though this line remains a strategic part of our network, we have always valued our relationship with Charlotte and the surrounding communities. Wherever we can, we will continue to work with them on projects that intersect with our network, the needs of our customers, and the interests of the region," a Norfolk Southern spokesperson said last year when asked about sharing its tracks with the City of Charlotte.
The North Corridor has changed a lot since the original design in 2008. CATS is engaged in a collaborative planning effort between the railroads, towns, city and regional planning organizations to establish a shared vision for the corridor.
Related article: Expanding rail travel across North Carolina
The first phase of the Red Line design update will be completed by early 2025, CATS said. There will be future opportunities for public involvement.