IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jean Leier (704) 432-0496
LYNX BLUE LINE EXTENSION RECEIVES $18 MILLION
COMMITMENT IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD
Charlotte, N.C., July 14, 2008 - Senators Dole and Burr recently notified the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) that the 2009 Senate Transportation Appropriations legislation contains $18 million for the LYNX Blue Line Extension (Northeast Corridor); $8 million more than CATS requested. These funds will be used to continue the LYNX Blue Line Extension's preliminary engineering, which includes finalizing alignment alternatives, advancing design to begin property acquisitions and assessing the potential environmental impacts of construction and operation. In addition, the 2009 Senate Transportation Appropriations will allow CATS to access $2.6 million that was appropriated last year.
"This is great news for the LYNX Blue Line Extension and residents of the Charlotte region as we continue to provide them with more transportation choices," said Keith Parker, CATS' Chief Executive Officer. "While we do not expect the transportation appropriations legislation to be enacted until after the Presidential election in November, and there is no guarantee that the funding level will hold, this is a step in the right direction."
If the $18 million holds, CATS will have received capital funding commitments of $40 million since March 2008 for bus, rail and rapid transit projects. The funding has come from a variety of sources, including the N.C. Department of Transportation, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Transit Administration. The funds are being used to purchase four new light rail vehicles, park and ride facilities, and safety and security equipment and training.
The 11-mile LYNX Blue Line Extension is a continuation of the LYNX Blue Line, which has surpassed first year ridership estimations in the first seven months of operation by more than 76 percent with over 16,100 weekday riders.
To learn more about CATS' LYNX Blue Line Extension, log on to www.ridetransit.org. For additional information about CATS and its services, call 704-336-RIDE or visit www.ridetransit.org.
