Related Projects and Plans

CONNECT Beyond will coordinate with existing active planning and design efforts throughout the region. CONNECT Beyond will evaluate high capacity transit corridors and transit modes such as light rail, bus rapid transit, and commuter rail corridors. The initiative will also evaluate fixed route bus service expansions, effective human service transportation connections, identify regional connection points, and areas for increased coordination. The project team is coordinating with many on-going efforts. Below are just some of the projects we are coordinating with.

A MTP is a Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) federally-mandated, fiscally-constrained long-range plan. MTPs outline policies, programs, and identify projects and project funding over 20 years. As the region's guiding transportation planning documents, MTPs will inform and be informed by CONNECT Beyond for future years. For more information visit your area's MPO website.

A CTP is the long-range, fiscally-unconstrained vision plan for MPOs and Rural Planning Organizations (RPO) in the region; our study areas include four MPOs and one RPO. Similar to the MTPs, CTPs will inform and be informed by CONNECT Beyond for future years. For more information visit your area's MPO and RPO websites.

The Charlotte Area Transit System is currently advancing the LYNX Silver Line program through three comprehensive efforts; 1) Light rail design from Belmont to Indian Trail, 2) Definition of a Rail Trail along the entire project and 3) A TOD study from Gastonia to Indian Trail to set the land use stage to support rapid transit. CONNECT Beyond will need to synchronize and build off of analysis and potential recommendations. For more information visit: www.charlottenc.gov/cats/transit-planning/Pages/silver-line.aspx

Beyond 77 is an initiative focused on improving the user experience surrounding the I-77 corridor, approximately three to five miles on either side of I-77, from Statesville in North Carolina to Rock Hill in South Carolina. The Beyond 77 study will create a master planning document of transportation options for the corridor and its recommendations will influence the region's various CTPs, MTPs and Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP). The Beyond 77 study mostly lies within the CONNECT Beyond study area and as such, coordination between the two studies will be important for comprehensive mobility solutions for commuters. For more information visit: www.beyond77.com

Building off the completed Envision My Ride effort, the CATS Bus Priority Study will develop an enhanced bus network and accompanying operational and capital plans. The study will develop a mobility hub program and priority treatments such as bus-only lanes and queue jumps. The CONNECT Beyond effort needs to coordinate with the CATS Bus Priority Study to synchronize and build off of analysis and potential recommendations. For more information visit: www.RideTransit.org

The CATS North Corridor I-77 BRT Study looks to define an I-77 BRT operating and capital plan from Charlotte Gateway Station to Mooresville and define operating and service needs to Troutman and Statesville. The CATS North Corridor I-77 BRT Study mostly lies within the CONNECT Beyond study area and as such, coordination between the two studies will be important for comprehensive mobility solutions for commuters. For more information visit: www.charlottenc.gov/cats/transit-planning/north-corridor-red-line

Past Studies

We’ve been working with the region for several years to reach this point. Learn about past studies:

This long-range plan consists of multiple rapid transit improvements in five corridors, a series of Center City improvements and bus service and facility improvements throughout the region.

CATS completed an integral part of the 2030 Plan with the opening of the LYNX Blue Line light rail service in 2007. In 2015, CATS opened CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar service. An extension of the Blue Line opened in March 2018 and Phase 2 of the CityLYNX is currently being constructed with an expected service start date in 2020.

In November 2016, the MTC approved and adopted a light rail alignment for Charlotte's Southeast corridor, the LYNX Silver Line. This line replaced the initially proposed 14-miles of bus rapid transit planned for the southeast corridor. With the newly adopted LYNX Silver Line alignment, CATS conducted analysis studies for the remaining transit corridors within the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan, including the LYNX Red Line/ North Corridor and LYNX West Corridor. On January 23, 2019, CATS presented its findings of both studies, as well as their impacts on Center City to the MTC during a presentation to update the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan.