N.C. CATS, freights reach rail agreement
The lease agreement outlines the operating and construction parameters along the 2.7-mile segment, such as fair rental value of the property, construction plan review, lease negotiation and other expenses, and an adjustment for anticipated future appreciation of the leased property.
The North Carolina Railroad Co. (NCRR), the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and Norfolk Southern Corp. signed lease, construction and operating agreements for the LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) light rail project along the North Carolina Railroad corridor.
The 50-year lease agreement is renewable for an additional 50 years. The lease agreement outlines the operating and construction parameters along the 2.7-mile segment, such as fair rental value of the property, construction plan review, lease negotiation and other expenses, and an adjustment for anticipated future appreciation of the leased property.
The LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) is a 9.4 mile extension of the existing light rail line that will serve the Northeast Corridor from Center City to UNC Charlotte. Light rail service will operate in nearly three miles of NCRR’s corridor when it opens in 2017.
As part of the agreement, CATS will make improved safety enhancements at 36th Street for freight and future passenger rail service by building a bridge over the railroad tier for pedestrians and vehicles.
Additional operational and construction agreements with Norfolk Southern allow CATS to construct, operate and maintain the BLE through North Charlotte.
In addition CATS also has an option with Norfolk Southern for acquisition of the current intermodal rail yard along Brevard Street north of Uptown Charlotte when Norfolk Southern moves its intermodal operations to a new facility now under construction at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. This land agreement allows CATS to accommodate two BLE transit stations, 25th Street Station and Parkwood Station, and part of the planned rail alignment.
NCRR owns and manages the 317-mile rail corridor extending across 16 counties from the Port of Morehead City to Charlotte and touching nearly a quarter of the state’s economy. The railroad carries 50-60 freight trains and 10 passenger trains daily. The oldest private company in the state, NCRR remains at the forefront of rail improvements and partnership development to promote jobs and rail-served industry.
More Rail
The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow
What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.
Read More →
Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →
Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet
The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract
The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.
Read More →
Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service
Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.
Read More →
Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline
The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan
The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.
Read More →
Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership
The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.
Read More →