Charlotte, NC — Streetcar Faces Year-Long Delay

Rail Transit Online – February 2011

The first 1.5-mi. (2.4 km) stretch of Charlotte's planned 10-mi. (16.1 km) streetcar line won't open until 2015, about a year behind schedule. The project manager blamed a delay in receiving federal funding, which won't be available until this summer.

The initial segment will cost $37 million and run along Elizabeth Avenue from Presbyterian Hospital to the basketball arena using the three Gomaco replica Birney cars already on hand. However, the remainder of the route linking Interstate 85 to Eastland Mall is unfunded and will remain on hold for an indefinite time because of recession-caused revenue shortfalls.