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The city of Charlotte, N.C., has received $18 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to expand the LYNX Blue Line light-rail line, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx announced yesterday.

The grant, first announced in December 2011, will be used to increase capacity on the southern corridor of the Blue Line, which Charlotte officials hope will improve service and better accommodate current and future ridership.

"Expanding the capacity of our South Corridor line helps lay the foundation for the Blue Line extension and for other parts of our transit system, including the Red Line and streetcar," Foxx said in a prepared statement.

The funding will support the Lynx Blue Line platform retrofit project, which is designed to lengthen some station platforms and add power substations for three-car trains in preparation for the future Blue Line extension.