The Charlotte City Council has approved up to $37.9 million to advance the next planning phase of the Red Line commuter rail project connecting Uptown Charlotte to Lake Norman-area communities.
The Red Line is a planned 25-mile commuter rail corridor linking Charlotte with the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson. The latest funding will advance engineering design to approximately 30 percent completion by the end of 2026.
The city has contracted HDR Engineering to lead planning and engineering work for the project. The council’s approval increases the value of the city’s contract with the firm to about $43.2 million. It will use an existing rail corridor previously operated by Norfolk Southern. Charlotte purchased the rail line for $91 million in 2024 to support future commuter rail service.
The newly approved funding will support station area planning, public engagement, utility coordination, systems design, and updated engineering cost estimates. Earlier phases included project planning, community outreach, grade crossing analysis, and preliminary track design.
Regional transportation funding will come partly from a one-percent Mecklenburg County sales tax approved by voters in 2025. The tax is expected to generate more than $19 billion over 30 years for transportation investments across the region.