LYNX Silver Line

LYNX Silver Line Locally Preferred Alternative

The LYNX Silver Line is a planned 29-mile, 31 station light rail alignment from the City of Belmont in Gaston County, through Center City Charlotte and the Town of Matthews, into Union County. Key connections include:

In January 2022, the CATS' policy board, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC), approved a refined Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and phasing strategy for construction of the LYNX Silver Line.

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.

Phase A, which would be designed and constructed first, would start at Charlotte Gateway Station (CGS) and extend eastward to the Town of Matthews; Phase B would extend 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 further into design and environmental review.

Phase A of the Locally Preferred Alternative

LYNX Silver Line Project Status

In January 2020, CATS began refining the LYNX Silver Line LPA that was developed and adopted in previous planning studies. CATS compared the LPA to various alignment options with a goal of maximizing benefits and minimizing risks. CATS considered many factors during the refinement process, including:

In April 2021, (MTC) approved a refined LPA that came out of the process described above. As a result of more detailed and continued evaluation, in October and November 2021 CATS presented several proposed refinements to the April 2021 LPA and a proposed phasing strategy for evaluation, design, and construction of the LYNX Silver Line. The public comment period closed on November 28, 2021. MTC adopted an updated LPA and a phasing strategy in January 2022.

Public Engagement

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

Related Efforts

Charlotte Planning, Design + Development partnered with CATS and other municipalities along the LYNX Silver Line corridor 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) Studypage to learn more.

LYNX Silver Line Library

View fast facts about the LYNX Silver Line Locally Preferred Alternative here:

Silver Line Fast Facts

Línea Plateada - Datos Rápidos

Phase A Fast Facts

Fase A – Datos Rápidos