Charlotte, N.C. receives $25M for streetcars

Continuing their tour on Monday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff were in Charlotte, N.C. to award nearly $25 million for a streetcar line that will improve access to jobs, housing and schools, and will spur economic development in the heart of one of the nation's fastest-growing metropolitan areas.

Six stops will be built as part of the initial 1.5-mile section of the Charlotte Streetcar Project, including the Charlotte Transportation Center near Time-Warner Cable Arena, the city's Government Center, McDowell Street, Central Piedmont Community College, Travis Avenue and Presbyterian Hospital.

This is the first phase of a planned 10-mile streetcar line that will serve the entire metropolitan Charlotte area.

The City of Charlotte has acquired three vintage streetcars to be used for the project, which is funded through the Federal Transit Administration's Urban Circulator Grant Program. The Charlotte Area Transportation System will operate and maintain the streetcar system once it is constructed.