A Two Million Dollar Study On Light Rail In Lake Norman Will Continue

HUNTERSVILLE, NC– A two million dollar study on light rail in Lake Norman will continue, and tax payers are footing the bill. Local leaders made that decision Wednesday, following several hours of debate.

The proposed Lynx Red Line would run about 25 miles from Uptown Charlotte to Mooresville. There would be 10 light rail stations along the way.

Commuters like Kimberly Carpenter say they support looking into mass transit, if it means they’re not stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on I-77. Carpenter drives from South Charlotte to Huntsville.

“I’m leaving the house so early to get to work on time. so it may help. it may really help,” says Carpenter.

Local leaders voted Wednesday night to continue a more than two million dollar study on the Lynx Red Line.

CATS had planned to use tracks controlled by Norfolk Southern, but the railroad said it wouldn’t share the tracks with a commuter train. CATS started the study to look for alternatives. Mayor of Huntersville John Aneralla has been against the study from the start.

“It would just create chaos in North Mecklenburg and a line on the map that may or may not be funded someday,” says Mayor Aneralla.

He thinks tax payer money would be better used for bus enhancements, not paying consultants.

Moving forward, cats will  look  for other possible routes and will study another corridor for the train.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and Davidson Mayor Rusty Knox were both in favor of continuing the study. Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jim Puckett agreed with the Mayor of Huntersville, saying he doesn’t want to see money from the half-cent sales tax used for anything he considers irresponsible.