A delegation of Maryland county elected officials and staff attending the National Association of Counties (NACo) Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina toured the LYNX Blue Line, Charlotte’s light rail system. The guided tour included a ride through 12 station stops and a meeting with CATS and LYNX transportation officials to discuss the history, development, and future of the light rail line as well as Charlotte’s mass transportation system.

According to Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) website:

The LYNX Blue Line is the Charlotte region’s first light rail service. It is 9.6 miles long and operates from ​I-485 at South Boulevard to Uptown Charlotte. With 15 stations including seven park and ride locations, the LYNX Blue Line provides a congestion free commute with a consistent travel time.

Fast facts on the LYNX from CATS:

-CATS’ LYNX Blue Line is the first rapid transit line in North Carolina.

-CATS’ LYNX Blue Line operates 20 light rail vehicles.

-In FY2012, LYNX Blue Line vehicles traveled 860,170 miles.

 

The tour was organized by Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal, a champion for mass transit. Council President Leventhal’s top transportation priority is, “The Purple Line – an east-west transit link which will connect both legs of Metro’s Red Line, the Green Line and the Orange line, three MARC train lines and AMTRAK.” As previously reported on Conduit Street, Governor Hogan announced plans in June to move forward with the Purple Line light rail project in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.