9th Street station (Charlotte) explained

9th Street
Style:CATS
Type:LYNX light rail station
Address:237 East Ninth Street
Charlotte, North Carolina
Country:United States
Coordinates:35.2297°N -80.835°W
Owned:Charlotte Area Transit System
Platforms:2 side platforms
Tracks:2
Structure:At-grade
Bicycle:Bicycle racks
Architect:Anna V. Murch & Douglas Hollis
Architectural Style:Postmodern
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Custom:
Shape:none
Line:none
Marker:rail-light
Zoom:15

9th Street is a light rail station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade dual side platforms are a stop along the Lynx Blue Line and serves Uptown Charlotte's First Ward as well as First Ward Park and the UNC Charlotte Center City Campus.

Location

The station is located next to 9th Street and is accessible by sidewalk and the Charlotte Rail Trail. immediate to the station is the Ellis, First Ward Park, and UNC Charlotte Center City Campus; while nearby are 525 North Tryon, Charlotte Ballet Academy, First Ward Creative Arts Academy, McColl Center, and SkyHouse Uptown.

Artwork

As part of the CATS Art in Transit program, 9th Street is a signature station design by Anna Valentina Murch and Doug Hollis, while working within STV Inc. overall Lynx Blue Line Extension design. Called UMBRA, Latin for shadow; the title combines the practical and metaphorical nature of their artistic intent. Inspired by Charlotte's historic textile industry, all ten passenger shelters have white tensile fabric canopies, curved blue glass windscreens, white benches and fixtures, and a blue platform.[1]

Nearby, along the rail trail, is Halcyon Idyll I and Halcyon Idyll II, by Sharon Dowell. These murals cover approximately 9000square feet on five facades facing the sidewalk, located under 11th Street and Brookshire Freeway. Adjacent to the underpass murals is a signal house wrapped in vinyl with a vibrant pattern titled Coexist.[2]

History

The station first opened for service on June 28, 2004, for the historic Charlotte Trolley, with one track and one platform, located south adjacent to 9th Street. Operating for little over 19 months, it was soon closed on February 6, 2006 because of LYNX Blue Line construction at neighboring 6th Street Station. The station reopened on April 20, 2008, when Charlotte Trolley service resumed, but was soon scaled back to weekend and special events in 2009. On June 28, 2010, the Charlotte Trolley service to the station was discontinued and the station was closed for a second time.[3] For the next few years, the station remained unused while planning and funding was established for the Blue Line Extension, which would incorporate 9th Street station.[4]

On July 18, 2013, the official groundbreaking took place near the 9th Street station for the Extension; at the ceremony were the mayor of Charlotte Patsy Kinsey, UNCC chancellor Philip Dubois, federal transit administrator Peter Rogoff and N.C. Governor Pat McCrory, the former mayor of Charlotte and an initial supporter of the LYNX project.[5] By 2016, the original side platform and structure was razed with construction started on a new station located north adjacent to 9th Street.[6] On March 16, 2018, the station was reopened as part of the Blue Line Extension to UNC Charlotte.[7] [8]

Station layout

The station consists of two side platforms and 10 covered waiting areas; other amenities include ticket vending machines, emergency call box, and covered bicycle racks designed by Darren Goins, using geometric abstract shapes.[1]

SouthboundLynx Blue Line toward (7th Street)
NorthboundLynx Blue Line toward

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BLE 9th Street Station . Charlotte Area Transit System . February 20, 2021.
  2. Web site: 11th St. & I-277 Underpasses . Charlotte Area Transit System . February 20, 2021.
  3. Web site: North Carolina Streetcar Systems . May 20, 2017.
  4. News: Harrison . Steve . City wants federal grant for shorter Lynx extension . The Charlotte Observer . July 22, 2010.
  5. News: Haggerty . Neil . LYNX Blue Line light rail extension breaks ground . The Charlotte Observer . July 18, 2013.
  6. Web site: 9th Street Station Site Plan . March 8, 2010 . May 20, 2017.
  7. News: Harrison . Steve . CATS announces opening date for the Blue Line Extension . . January 8, 2018 . January 8, 2018.
  8. News: Staff . Blue Line Extension from uptown to UNCC opens . . Charlotte, NC . March 16, 2018 . March 16, 2018.