04.10.2024

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🚊 An idea *not* off the rails

Meetings set for future of the Red Line Commuter Rail

A vacant train track running into the foreground before disappearing into a thick tree line.

Proponents of the Red Line believe a new transportation system would ease the burden off Charlotte traffic. | Photo by WCNC

We get it. Getting around Charlotte in a hurry is tough without a car. That’s why plans are in motion to bring a major transit expansion to the metro area — with a series of public meetings set to begin tonight.

Reported by WCNC Charlotte last October, Norfolk Southern Railway Company and the City of Charlotte are actively pursuing a way to launch the Red Line Commuter Rail — a passenger train that would link commuters from Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, or North Charlotte directly to Uptown.

A map with a red line connecting a hopeful train rail through Charlotte-area communities. — The Red Line would provide a direct connection to the Charlotte Gateway Station and the surrounding entertainment district including the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Knights, and Charlotte Football Club.
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Photo by Charlotte Area Transit System

Scope

10 stations + 25 miles of track across two counties
Stations will offer park and ride, mobility hubs, and first/last mile connections
Train will use the existing Norfolk Southern (“O” Line) rail line that will be upgraded to accommodate the new service

A new rail line would mean less traffic on I-77. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

The image of a train with lights on moving towards the camera. — Photo by the City of Charlotte

A favor from the Queen (City)

The city of Charlotte approved $5 million for updated work on the design and engineering of the Red Line — which has been in early development since 1998.

“Connecting Charlotte to North Mecklenburg has always been the pathway to unlocking regional mobility,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement to WCNC Charlotte.

The next stop

If a train from Uptown to Lake Norman sounds like a dream come true, the city wants your feedback.

Excited to learn more? Here’s the schedule for the first round of meetings:

Wednesday, April 10 — Virtual public meeting, 6-8 p.m., on the CATS YouTube channel.
Tuesday, April 16 — In-person meeting for the Cornelius, Davidson and Mooresville communities, 6-8 p.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, 119 S. Main St., Davidson
Thursday, April 18 — In-person meeting for the Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville communities, 6-8 p.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, 16500 Holly Crest Ln., Huntersville
Saturday, April 20 — In-person meeting for the Charlotte communities, 10 a.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, 4045 N. Tryon St., Sugar Creek

Asked

Would you like to see the Red Line Commuter Rail become a reality?

A. Yes — I’d love another transit option
B. No — Funding should go elsewhere
C. I need to know more

Express your feelings

Events

Wednesday, April 10

Jazz on the Plaza: Tim Scott, Jr. Ensemble | Wednesday, April 10 | 12 p.m. | Duke Energy Center, 551 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | Free | Be serenaded listening to renditions of jazz artists like Miles Davis perform live during lunch in the open air.
Sycamore Run Club | Wednesday, April 10 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Sycamore Brewing & Taproom, 2151 Hawkins St., Charlotte | Free | Run and build community with fitness lovers in Charlotte + reward yourself with a drink.
AJR - The Maybe Man Tour | Wednesday, April 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St., Charlotte | $49.50-$129.50 | AJR will grace the Queen City with a “Bang!” as the final stop in the Carolina leg of their latest tour.

Thursday, April 11

Spring Plant Sale | Thursday, April 11 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Wing Haven, 260 Ridgewood Ave., Charlotte | Free | Add some green to your home by shopping for a wide variety of local favorite and unusual plants.
Queen Charlotte Fair | Thursday, April 11 | 4-11 p.m. | Route 29 Pavilion, 5650 Sandusky Blvd., Concord | Free | The annual spring event returns with thrilling rides, delicious fair food, and captivating carnival shows.
Lavagem African Brazilian Festival | Thursday, April 11 | 6-9 p.m. | The Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | Free | Feel the rhythm and and learn about African and Brazilian dance + culture.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Charlotte - Jewels of the New World Wine Dinner | Thursday, April 11 | 7-10 p.m. | Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, 4725 Piedmont Row Dr. #Ste. 170, Charlotte | $225 | Savor a one-of-a-kind five-course dinner experience featuring wines from South America.

Friday, April 12

Matthews Historical Foundation Art Show Opening Night | Friday, April 12 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Historic Reid House, 134 W. John St., Matthews, | Cost of purchase | Celebrate the work of local artists + enter for a chance to win an original painting by a Matthews-based artist.
Murder Mystery Dinner | Friday, April 12 | 7-10 p.m. | Blackfinn Ameripub, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way #100, Charlotte | $70 | Step into an evening of suspense, mystery, and fun partaking in a who-dunn-it plot over dinner.
Disney Princess: The Concert | Friday, April 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte | $39.50-$79.50 | Prepare for “a whole new world” seeing Disney’s iconic princesses perform live.
Charlotte Symphony: Great Ladies of Swing | Friday, April 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St., Charlotte | $0-$22 | Superstar vocalist Dee Daniels will dazzle with hits by Swing legends Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, and Sarah Vaughan.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Announced

The Diocese of Charlotte unveiled plans to build a new cathedral. The move comes after outgrowing the St. Patrick Cathedral built in 1939 in Dilworth. The new location will be in Charlotte. The cost of the project is TBA. (The Charlotte Observer)

Concert

Got “Moves Like Jagger?” Maroon 5 is coming to Charlotte this summer. The pop band will rock the stage at PNC Music Pavilion Thursday, June 27. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 12, at 10 a.m. (WCNC)

Eat

Bird Pizzeria is expanding. The brick-and-mortar pizza shop in Optimist Park will occupy the space left by the former Coast To Coast Tattoo shop, providing indoor seating to the window-only spot. The expansion aims to be complete by May. (The Charlotte Observer)

Coming Soon

Ready for lift off? Blumenthal Arts announced the upcoming exhibit Space Explorers: The Infinite. Guests will be taken to the International Space Station via virtual reality. The attraction will debut Friday, Sept. 20, at the Iron District in Uptown and runs through Nov. 10. (WCNC)

Learn

Attention class of 2037. There may only be weeks left in the school year, but it’s time to register for the 2024-25 school year at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. CMS teaches more than 141,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade in 184 schools throughout Mecklenburg County.

Outdoors

Local nonprofit Live to Skate is raising funds to open the only skatepark in Statesville. The goal is to raise $15,000 by Monday, May 20, before the June grand opening at 720 S. Mulberry St. (WBTV)

Real Estate

A $5.9 million equestrian estate in Morganton is for sale. The 211-acre estate was owned by Bob Cassata — the founder of Whac-A-Mole. Located 86 miles northwest of Charlotte, the 3,154-sqft home has three bedrooms and three full bathrooms. (Charlotte Business Journal)

Community

Tega Cay is seeking public opinion on deer. The survey follows the city’s ongoing effort to reduce its plentiful deer population. People have until Monday, April 29, to submit their survey response. (WCNC News)

Fun Fact

Blu South Townhomes in Pineville — featured on season 6 of the Netflix dating show “Love Is Blind” — has been sold. The luxury townhome development was acquired by Hines U.S. Property Partners for $156.5 million. The 75-acre property is located at 920 Blu Central Rd. (Charlotte Business Journal)

Sports

With Steve Clifford stepping down, who are the top coaching candidates for the Charlotte Hornets? Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornets with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Home

Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*

Seasonal

Save on all your faves during Fab Week at Synergy Face + Body. We’re talking discounts of up to 50% on Botox, laser therapy, skin service, and more.*

City

🚦Who’s directing traffic? This guy.

The story behind “Old Man Traffic”

A bronze figure of a man wearing a hat, glasses, and carrying a towel, pointing out towards traffic.

“Old Man Traffic,” celebrating the life of local man Hugh McManaway, debuted in Myers Park on December 9, 2000. | Photo by CLTtoday

Waiting for a green light at the intersection of Queens and Providence Road, you’ve probably thought — what’s the story behind the statue of the man pointing out like he’s directing traffic?

The four-ft bronze statue is a memorial of Charlotte native Hugh McManaway, who grew up in a 20-room mansion on Queens Road. Just blocks from his childhood home, McManaway spent the 60s and 70s directing traffic at the intersection that bears his image — donning his signature golf hat, glasses, and a towel on his arm.

Friends and family raised money to cement McManaway’s place in history following his death in 1989. Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl provided a donation to make it possible.

McManaway’s memory and contribution to the community is now immortalized in the relic of “Old Man Traffic,” sculpted by Elsie Shaw.

Seen by thousands of commuters ever day, McManaway has become a fabric of city folklore. Myers Park resident Larrie Sweet spoke to WCNC about the beloved landmark, “He was quite a fixture. All the old-timers have stories about him.”

Editor’s note: Don’t be surprised to see McManaway decked out in a sports jersey, a bouquet of balloons, or other decorations promoting local events.

Answered

Last Friday, we asked “which food truck would you sample first at StrEATs this weekend?” Here’s what you’re craving:

A line of people wait for food outside a food truck at night. — Photo by Kurt Kaiser via Wikimedia Commons

31% of you said you preferred Cutting Board CLT.

And there was a three-way tie between Boujee Soul Food Truck, CFT Bistro, and Ve-Go at 18%.

Finally, rounding out the pack was Chop Chop Red Pot at 12%.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jack

From the editor

City Editor Maria and I had a blast this past weekend at Carolina BBQ Festival. My favorite sample was the pulled pork sandwich from Moss and Moore Barbecue.

Someone in black gloves pulls meat from a barbecued pig over a grill.

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