Red Line Commuter Rail – Charlotte Gateway Station to Mt. Mourne

Summary

The Red Line is a proposed commuter-rail corridor from Charlotte Gateway Station through northern Mecklenburg County to Mt. Mourne in southern Iredell County. The project would use the existing Norfolk Southern O-Line, serve planned mobility hubs, and connect Uptown Charlotte with Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson and the Lake Norman area.

Current stage: Preliminary design or environmental review.

Current condition: Active.

Key Facts

Project Funding

Funding type: Public · Status: Allocated

Timeline

1. 2026-07

   30 percent design and NEPA phase begins

   CATS identifies the next Red Line phase as a 30 percent design update with an approximate 18- to 24-month duration. The work includes finalizing station locations, selecting vehicle technology, completing NEPA documents and updating the cost estimate.

   Stage after event: Preliminary design or environmental review
2. 2025-11

   Mecklenburg voters approve transportation sales tax

   Voters approved a one-cent Mecklenburg County sales tax projected to generate $19.4 billion over 30 years for transportation investments, including new rail lines. The tax became effective July 1, 2026, according to reported election information.

   Stage after event: Funded or programmed
3. 2025-10

   Red Line design update reaches 15 percent

   CATS reports that the Red Line Design Update concluded in October 2025 after updating the concept to a 15 percent design level, reassessing station locations and technologies, and producing an updated cost estimate.

   Stage after event: Preliminary design or environmental review
4. 2025-05-28

   MTC adopts updated financially constrained transit plan

   The updated Transit System Plan prioritized phased rapid-transit corridors, including the Red Line from Charlotte Gateway Station to Mt. Mourne.

   Stage after event: Funded or programmed
5. 2024-09-09

   City completes O-Line and Gateway property acquisition

   Charlotte completed the purchase of approximately 22 miles of O-Line right-of-way and related rights for $74 million, plus approximately 1.6 acres near Charlotte Gateway Station for $17 million. The agreement preserved an option for a possible Iredell County extension.

   Stage after event: Funded or programmed
6. 2022-09

   MTC adds Red Line advancement to the FY2023 CIP

   The MTC amended the FY2023 Capital Investment Plan to include funding to advance the Red Line commuter-rail project.

   Stage after event: Funded or programmed
7. 2019-02

   MTC adopts a North Corridor Locally Preferred Alternative

   The MTC approved a new Locally Preferred Alternative for the North Corridor that retained a long-term Red Line vision while identifying near-term bus rapid transit on I-77.

   Stage after event: Planning or feasibility
8. 2013

   Norfolk Southern policy change stalls the project

   Norfolk Southern changed its passenger-rail policy, and CATS reported that the Red Line was no longer feasible on the single-track O-Line under the new requirements.

   Stage after event: Planning or feasibility
9. 2008

   Initial Red Line design is completed

   CATS reports that the initial Red Line design was completed in 2008 as part of the earlier North Corridor planning effort.

   Stage after event: Preliminary design or environmental review
10. 2002

    MTC approves North Corridor commuter-rail study

    The Metropolitan Transit Commission approved a major investment study for commuter rail along the I-77 North Corridor.

    Stage after event: Planning or feasibility
11. 1998

    North Corridor commuter rail is identified in transit planning

    CATS traces the Red Line concept to the 2025 Transit and Land Use Plan, which identified a future commuter-rail connection in the North Corridor.

    Stage after event: Planning or feasibility

Geography

Map

ExactApproximate

Solid geometry is exact. Dotted geometry and dotted-outline markers are approximate. Multiple markers may show independently verified locations; they are not connected and do not establish a route or alignment.