South End Station

Since the Blue Line opened in 2007, the area between Remount Road and Tremont Drive has grown dramatically. The new South End Station will serve this developing community by constructing improvements including:

  • A new light rail station
  • A new track crossing between Publix and Cortland South End
  • A new Rail Trail section behind Autobell and Cannon Pharmacy
  • Improved sidewalks connecting to South Boulevard and Hawkins Street
  • Special trackwork (crossover) allowing trains to switch tracks

South End Station will be built through two main construction contracts: 1) Track and Systems and 2) Station and Civil. Stacy Witbeck will first build the Track Systems contract, which includes the track crossing, crossover and modifications to the light rail’s signaling and OCS (electrical) systems and station foundations. The bulk of their work will take place between spring 2026 and spring 2027. Track and Systems construction will be focused around three bi-annual rail shutdowns, the first of which will happen April 2026.

Image shows a timeline that visually explains that we are currently in the track and systems construction point. Then through the 2027, station construction begins. This will be followed by testing in 2028. The station should be fully operational and aimed to open for service in 2028. This schedule is subject to adjustments as the project progresses.

3 Month Overview

March

  • Set up site access and staging yard behind Autobell
  • Clear and grade the site to prepare for installations
  • Install erosion control measures
  • Receive construction materials

April

Trains will be single-tracked (run on one track in both directions) through the site to provide working space to the contractor April 5 – 24 while the contractor:

  • Installs special trackwork (light rail crossover)
  • Installs track crossing
  • Installs foundations for new OCS (electrical) poles
  • Relocates communications lines and installs conduits for new electrical and communications services

Single tracking will be followed by a 4-day light rail shutdown April 25-28:

  • Complete installation of crossover
  • Finish conduit installations under tracks for new electrical and communications services
  • Install fencing between tracks
  • Adjust track and ballast stone
  • Complete track testing

May

  • Remove Rail Trail in the vicinity of the track crossing
  • Install conduits for new electrical and communications services outside track area

Rail Trail and Detour

CATS thanks everyone who participated in past public meetings and surveys. Your comments emphasized the importance of opening the track crossing between Publix and Cortland South End as early as possible, and that’s what we will do. To build the crossing, we must close the Rail Trail from April to July. The light rail tracks are slightly higher than the existing Rail Trail. After installing the crossing panels, we will rebuild adjacent sections of the Rail Trail to properly connect to the new crossing. Signage will be posted indicating where through access is closed and where local access to businesses remains open.

Detours and Connections

  • Bicycle and pedestrian detours will run from Tremont Avenue to Remount Road using Hawkins Street and Dunevant Street on the west side and South Boulevard on the east side.
  • Private sidewalks and paths connecting to the Rail Trail will remain open to local users and emergency vehicles but will be closed to through traffic.

Closed and Open on West Side of Tracks

April

  • Rail Trail closed from Remount Road to Linea
  • Rail Trail access open to business fronting the Rail Trail between Tremont and Linea

May to July

  • Rail Trail closed between Cortland South End and Linea
  • Rail Trail access will reopen along Junction 1504 and remain open to businesses fronting the Rail Trail between Tremont and Linea

Closed and Open on East Side of Tracks

April – July

  • Rail Trail closed between Trolley Barn Restaurant and Camden Southline (end of Rail Trail)
  • Rail Trail closed between Remount Road and 2400 South (end of Rail Trail)
  • Rail Trail access to Atherton Mills and Lofts will remain open between Tremont and Trolley Barn Restaurant.
  • Rail Trail access between Remount Road and 2400 South may be opened after alternate access to the site yard is established.

South end blue line map with current and proposed routes with detail description below

Image shows a map of improvements included in the South End Station project along the Blue Line light rail. The map shows an area along the Blue Line between the Solis Southline Apartments in the south and The Line in the north, and between Donavan Street and Hawkins Street to the west and South Boulevard to the east. The proposed station platforms are staggered, with the northbound platform alongside the Publix, the southbound platform further north alongside 2173 Hawkins and 2161 Hawkins across from Atherton Lofts, and the crossing in the middle just south of the existing CATS traction power substation. The project includes pedestrian improvements alongside the Publix connecting to South Boulevard and pedestrian improvements between Cortland South End Apartments and 2173 Hawkins connecting to Hawkins Street. South of the station platforms, a track crossover would be added to the section of track alongside the Junction 1504 Apartments. Alongside the crossover, a gap on the rail trail on the east side of the tracks would be filled, with a signal house added alongside.

Contact

Email: southendstation@publicinput.com

Phone: 980-580-7502

Mail: Todd Thorne, Engineering Program Manager, 600 E. 4th St., Floor 14, Charlotte, NC 28202

Resources

South End Fast Facts(PDF, 24MB)

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