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Feds Give Nod To Planned Light Rail To University Area

Plans for a light rail line from uptown Charlotte to the University area have risen to the top of the Federal Transit Administration's priority list. The Charlotte Area Transit System is still designing the line and needs about $50 million to complete that. CATS CEO Carolyn Flowers says the FTA's recommendation means the Lynx has a good shot at the design money. "What is significant is that the feds have identified four projects, Charlotte being one of them, that they feel have potential in this stage to move forward," says Flowers. Flowers hopes the FTA's recommendation will mean more money later on for construction costs. CATS hopes the federal government will pay half of the $1.18 billion. As sales tax revenue has dwindled, it's still unclear how CATS would pay for the other half.