USA: A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 18 for the extension of Charlotte’s LYNX Blue Line. The 15 km extension will link Center City with the University of North Carolina campus via North Davidson, adding 11 stops and almost doubling the length of the Blue Line when it opens in 2017.
The Federal Transit Administration is providing $580m from its New Starts programme, with the rest of the $1·16bn project cost met from state and local sources.
Charlotte Area Transit System estimates that construction will create 7600 jobs and that the extension will add 18 000 passengers per weekday to the Blue Line.
