Sharon Road West station explained

Sharon Road West
Type:LYNX light rail station
Style:CATS
Country:United States
Coordinates:35.1194°N -80.8821°W
Connections: CATS: 19, 43, 55 [1]
Structure:At-grade
Tracks:2
Bus Stands:2
Parking:188 spaces
Architect:Ralph Whitehead Associates
Opened:November 24, 2007
Accessible:yes
Owned:Charlotte Area Transit System
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Custom:
Shape:none
Line:none
Marker:rail-light
Zoom:15

Sharon Road West is a light rail station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The at-grade island platform is a stop along the Lynx Blue Line and serves the industrial area of Montclaire South, including the Snyder's-Lance factory. It also features a 188-space park and ride and local bus connections.

Location

The station and the park and ride are both located along Crump Road and connects directly to the intersection of South Boulevard and Sharon Road West via a pedestrian bridge that goes over both the Blue Line and Norfolk Southern tracks. Another walkway, going north, leads to the Snyder's-Lance entrance gate.[1] [2]

History

The station was part of the overall planning and construction of the LYNX Blue Line; starting in 1999, it was approved in February 2000 and construction began on February 26, 2005.[3] [4] [5] The station officially opened for service on Saturday, November 24, 2007, and as part of its opening celebration fares were not collected. Regular service with fare collection commenced on Monday, November 26, 2007.[6]

Station layout

The station consists of one island platform and four covered waiting areas; other amenities include ticket vending machines, emergency call box, and bicycle racks. The station also features several art installations including bas-reliefs entitled Skyrocket Oak by Alice Adams, drinking fountain basins designed to look like dogwoods, the North Carolina state flower, by Nancy Blum, bark motifs on both the pavers and shelters by Leticia Huerta and the painting of the bridge and retaining walls by Marek Ranis. The most notable art installations at the station are its two, 18feet tall, stainless-steel sculptures at the intersection of South Boulevard and Sharon Road West created by Cliff Garten.[2] [7]

Adjacent to the station is the park and ride, which features a 188-space surface parking lot and two bus bays. Parking is free for patrons for either bus or light rail and is limited to 24 hours.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sharon Road West Station . . May 19, 2017.
  2. News: Kristen . Valle . Sharon Road West - An emphasis on walkability . . 11M . November 18, 2007.
  3. News: Whitacre . Dianne . Meeting to help decide when, where trains will be comin' down track . . 1C . January 25, 1999.
  4. News: Whitacre . Dianne . $8.2 million will get the ball rolling on light rail . The Charlotte Observer . 2B . April 27, 2000.
  5. News: Whitacre . Dianne . Celebration marks start of work on light rail line . The Charlotte Observer . 2B . February 27, 2005.
  6. News: Steve . Harrison . Kristen . Valle . Light rail, heavy traffic: Thousands wait in lines for a free ride on 1st day . The Charlotte Observer . 1A . November 25, 2007.
  7. Web site: Sharon Road West Station: Art in Transit . Charlotte Area Transit System . June 21, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071226080343/http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/LYNX/Sharon+Rd+West+Station.htm . December 26, 2007.