CATS
“Charlotte City Council members approved a $93 million financing plan to support the acquisition of the Norfolk Southern [single-track] O-Line corridor and surrounding properties, a key component of the long-anticipated Red Line commuter rail project,” WCNC, a Charlotte, N.C., NBC affiliate, reported Feb. 10.
The plan, it said, would reimburse the city for two acquisitions the council approved in September: $74 million for about 22 miles of NS right-of-way and $17 million for 1.6 acres of land near the Charlotte Gateway Station. The infrastructure would be used for CATS’s 25-mile Red Line commuter rail project to connect the downtowns of Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson, and potentially extending into Mt. Mourne in Mooresville.
A public hearing on the financial plan will be held Feb. 24 and the North Carolina Local Government Commission will review, and potentially approve it, in April. CATS expects to complete an project implementation schedule and financial plan by this summer.
CATS last fall held a public meeting to provide a project update (see presentation, above), covering the purchase agreements, changes in design, proposed service frequency and vehicle technology, station locations, and project timelines.
CTA
CTA will hold community meetings on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26 to present final development plans for the space under the new ‘L’ tracks between the Lawrence and Bryn Mawr stations, as part of the historic $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project (see map above).
According to the transit authority, more than one mile of new, open space under the L tracks has become available to the Edgewater and Uptown communities following the removal of a century-old embankment as part of the RPM project, which has rebuilt Red and Purple line elevated track structure and is also reconstructing the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr Red Line stations. The open space is located underneath Red and Purple line tracks between W. Lawrence and W. Ardmore avenues.
CTA reported partnering with Site Design Group, a Chicago-based landscape architecture, urban design and architecture firm, to guide the development of a block-by-block plan to activate new community space under the CTA tracks. Design plans include a pedestrian trail, dog parks, playground, fitness area, benches, and flexible-use plaza space for community events. CTA and Site Design Group in 2024 held multiple public meetings to solicit ideas from the community.
At the meetings later this month, CTA will share not only the new final block-by-block concepts that it said were inspired by the community’s input but also a timeline for the construction work.
“CTA continues to make significant progress in the final major stage of [RPM] construction,” the transit authority reported Feb. 11. “After rebuilding the northbound Red and Purple elevated track structure in 2023, CTA is nearing completion of the southbound Red Line structure and four new, fully accessible Red Line stations at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr.” The new stations and tracks are expected to open this summer.
DART
DART on Feb. 11 introduced a new $2 billion modernization program, DART Transform, that the Texas transit agency said will update legacy light rail lines and bus networks with new vehicles, improve passenger facilities like stations and bus shelters, unify the light rail signaling system, update maintenance facilities, and improve the resiliency of the entire transit system (watch video above).
“Many of our vehicles and facilities have reached their usage capacity, so it’s time to invest in our aging system to ensure our customers have a cleaner, safer, more reliable experience when they are commuting with us,” DART CEO and President Nadine Lee said. “DART Transform aligns with our Point B vision, a road map that will move us from where we are now to where we want to be as an agency.”
The transit agency said it surveyed riders, stakeholders, and employees to identify improvements. With DART Transform, changes riders will see include:
- “New buses and trains with upgraded lighting, system messaging, and convenience features.
- “Raised platforms at 23 stations to provide level boarding and improve access for those with limited mobility or who are travelling with children.
- “Renovations at the Cityplace/Uptown station.
- “Additional resiliency measures to guard the rail system against extreme weather events.
- “Improvements at stations and passenger and operations facilities.”
DART said that over the past year it has installed 34,000 new vinyl seats on buses and trains, hired more security and fare enforcement officers, implemented an on-board cleaning team, and improved lighting around stations. This was “the first step in reinforcing our commitment to improving the customer experience.”
New buses and trains will be coming soon, DART continued. The transit agency has secured a contract to purchase new buses to begin replacing the oldest ones; they are expected to enter service by spring 2026. “The process to begin replacing light-rail vehicles (LRVs) will take a bit longer as DART is still in the planning and development phase,” it reported. “Once a final design is approved and manufacturing begins, riders can expect to see the new LRVs in operation by 2029.”
According to DART, later this year it will begin asking riders about their journey to identify “pain points” accessing their transit ride, while at the agency’s facilities, and on their commutes. This will allow DART to make necessary improvements throughout the DART Transform program. The agency will also reach out to non-riders to gauge how they too can become DART customers.
Separately, DART will introduce a simplified fare structure starting March 1, 2025.
