Silver Line

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LYNX Silver Line Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)

The LYNX Silver Line is a planned 29-mile, 30 station light rail alignment from the City of Belmont in Gaston County, through Center City Charlotte and the Town of Matthews in Mecklenburg County, and into Stallings and Indian Trail in Union County. Key connections include:

  • Charlotte Douglas International Airport
  • Bank of America Stadium
  • Truist Field
  • Charlotte Gateway District
  • CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar
  • LYNX Blue Line Light Rail
  • Bojangles Coliseum
  • Ovens Auditorium
  • Novant Uptown and Matthews hospitals
  • Town of Matthews
  • Sportsplex
  • CPCC Central and Levine campuses

Over the last several years, CATS' policy board, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC), has approved refinements to the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and a phasing strategy for implementation of the Silver Line. Phase A extends eastward from Charlotte Gateway Station (CGS) to CPCC Levine in southeastern Mecklenburg County; Phase B extends westward from CGS to I-485 in western Mecklenburg County. Subsequent phases would extend farther in each direction into Gaston and Union counties.

In the near term, CATS anticipates taking the Phase A segment into design and environmental review. This first phase is considered the Silver Line Project. The proposed Project is an approximately 15-mile light rail transit alternative on new location from Center City Charlotte to the Town of Matthews. The western terminus would be at either the Charlotte Gateway Station (CGS) or Morehead station, and the eastern terminus would be at CPCC Levine. The Project would include 17-18 stations and a vehicle maintenance facility or combination of facilities.

 

Directions for viewing the map on a mobile device

  • To change the basemap, click on the box in the top right of the map for options.
  • To zoom in and out, use the “+” and “-“ icons at the top left of the map or drag two fingers on the screen in and out.
  • To return to the original view, click the house icon at the top left of the map.
  • To search for an address, click the magnifying glass icon on the top left of the map.


Directions for viewing the map on a laptop or desktop

  • To view the legend, click on the Details button in the top left of the screen and then select the far right Legend button.
  • To change the basemap, click Basemap in the top left of the screen for options.
  • To zoom in and out, use the “+” and “-“ icons at the top left of the map or use your center mouse button.
  • To return to the original view, click the house icon at the top left of the map.
  • To search for an address, type an address in the Find address or place search bar next to the magnifying glass icon on the top right of the screen.
  • To measure distances, click the Measure button in the top right of the screen. Select the ruler icon and use the drop-down list to select measurement units. Then click on the map to create a starting point, draw a line, and double click on the end point for your measurement result.


 

Related Efforts

  • Silver Line Project: Visit the Silver Line Project page to learn more about the current light rail project status and next steps.
  • Transit Oriented Development: Charlotte Planning, Design + Development partnered with CATS and other municipalities along the LYNX Silver Line LPA to develop station area plans which prioritize connected neighborhoods with a mix of uses that are consistent with local goals and policies. Visit the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Study page to learn more.

Public Engagement 

CATS has conducted extensive public engagement, including several online open houses, live virtual public meetings, neighborhood meetings, and surveys. View previous project materials and watch meeting recordings on the LYNX Silver Line Project Library.

LYNX Silver Line Project Library