Charlotte City Council OKs additional $7.7 million for streetcar project

The Charlotte, N.C., City Council last week approved $7.7 million for the second phase of the CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar project.

The funding marks an important step in completing the Small Starts Grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, officials from the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) said in a press release. It also will help keep the project on schedule for the start of construction in 2016, with an official opening in 2019.

In his proposed budget for fiscal year 2016, President Barack Obama allocated $75 million for the second phase of the Gold Line project, CATS officials said. The Charlotte City Council previously approved the remaining $75 million for the local share of the project cost.

Phase 2 of the Gold Line Project will extend the line by 2.5 miles, add 11 new stops and replace Gomaco Corp. replica trolley vehicles with modern streetcar vehicles. The entire line will run 10 miles, and will provide a link between rail and bus service in Charlotte's central business district.