Why the Silver Line won't directly connect to Charlotte airport
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The future east-west Silver Line light rail won't drop you and your suitcase off right at CLT's real front door, but it will come close — about a mile away.
Why it matters: Mecklenburg County is preparing to ask residents in the 2025 election to pass a 1-cent sales tax increase for transit. But some voters may hesitate to support the referendum since current plans do not call for a direct transit stop at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Driving the news: Interim Charlotte Area Transit System CEO Brent Cagle defended this planning decision Monday night when pressed by city council members during a discussion about the posed mobility tax.
- Cagle said because of the airport's runway configuration, the closest the airport station could be is "possibly" three-quarters to a half mile from the terminal.
- As planned, the station will be on airport property, at the corner where Little Rock Road meets Josh Birmingham Parkway. A shuttle or train would take passengers to the terminal.
- "In my view, as the former aviation director and now as the interim CATS CEO, the Silver Line and the airport will be connected — creating a very high level of service for all the passengers," Cagle said.
Zoom out: Many airports, such as Phoenix and LaGuardia, shuttle passengers to and from nearby transit lines.
- But some big-city airports like Reagan National Airport in D.C. have stations at the building.
- "They have different layouts for their runways and roadways than we do," Cagle said. He described CLT's design as a cul-de-sac.
What they're saying: CLT tells Axios it supports the current alignment "as our Master Plan calls for our front door to expand."
- Airport officials refer to the area off Wilkinson Boulevard as its "front door." They plan to develop the land with potential hotels, offices and restaurants.
The big picture: CLT is a $30-plus billion economic driver for the state's economy. Over Labor Day weekend, the airport expects 1.14 million fliers — a 19% increase over last year.