Charlotte Transportation Center

Charlotte Transportation Center
LYNX light rail station

A southbound train prepares to depart
Location 310 East Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Coordinates 35°13′30″N 80°50′29″W / 35.22500°N 80.84139°W / 35.22500; -80.84139
Owned by Charlotte Area Transit Systems
Line(s)
  CityLynx Gold Line
  Lynx Blue Line
Platforms 2 side platforms[1]
Tracks 2[1]
Construction
Structure type Elevated
Bicycle facilities Racks available
Disabled access Yes
History
Opened December 11, 1995 (bus only)
Rebuilt November 24, 2007 (light rail)
Services
Preceding station   CATS   Following station
Lynx Blue Line
Terminus

The Charlotte Transportation Center, also known as Arena or CTC/Arena, is an intermodal transit station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Located in Uptown Charlotte, it serves the LYNX Blue Line and is a central hub for Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses. The station officially opened for service on Saturday, November 24, 2007, and as part of its opening celebration fares were not collected.[2] Regular service with fare collection commenced on Monday, November 26, 2007.[2]

The station is located at East Trade Street between Brevard Street and College Street. It has side platforms, which sit on either side of the tracks. Additionally, the station has an entrance from the platform into the neighboring Charlotte Transportation Center.

The station is unique to the LYNX system in that the entire platform is covered by a roof made of synthetic materials and supported by curved steel.[3] The present design was originally scrapped due to high costs, but was later brought back and constructed after multiple Uptown businesses donated money to make up the difference in construction costs.[3]

Notable places nearby

Public art

As part of the CATS Art in Transit program, the CTC/Arena features several pieces intended to provide a better overall aesthetic for the station. The works include bas-reliefs entitled Gingko by Alice Adams, drinking fountain basins designed to look like dogwoods, the North Carolina state flower, by Nancy Blum, the Trade Street bridge supports entitled Bobbins pays hommage to Charlotte's textile industry was created by Andrew Leicester, Bobbins and track fencing featuring cottonwood leaves by Shaun Cassidy.[4]

Charlotte Transportation Center

Celebrating its grand opening on December 11, 1995, through a partnership with then-NationsBank, the CTC is served by most local and express CATS routes that lead from outlying areas destined for Uptown.[5] Its opening moved the central transfer point for all CATS buses from The Square two blocks to the west in an effort to improve traffic congestion along Tryon Street and provide transit riders a more efficient centralized transfer point.[5] Additionally, a Greyhound bus station is located not far from here, as well as the downtown Gold Rush trolley service. The Amtrak station is approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the LYNX line.

Beyond just being the flagship transfer center in the system, the Charlotte Transportation Center has a rare distinction of having businesses located here for people's personal conveniences. Among these are a Bank of America branch, Postal Plus mailing service, a Plaza Sundries food store and a Char-Meck police unit; it also houses four restaurants: Bojangles', Burger King, China Shuttle and a Subway.

References

  1. 1 2 CTC/Arena station site plan
  2. 1 2 Harrison, Steve; Kristen Valle (November 25, 2007). "Light rail, heavy traffic - Thousands wait in lines for a free ride on 1st day". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A.
  3. 1 2 Harrison, Steve (June 17, 2007). "Rail's early opening hinges on one station - Uptown stop must be complete before any part of line can open". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
  4. ↑ "CTC/Arena Station: Art in Transit". Charlotte Area Transit System. Archived from the original on 2008-03-23. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  5. 1 2 Powell, Dannye Romine (December 12, 1995). "Checked out the Transit Center". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1C.

Coordinates: 35°13′30″N 80°50′29″W / 35.22500°N 80.84139°W / 35.22500; -80.84139

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