The Metropolitan Transit Commission was in an all-day meeting in Charlotte Wednesday, discussing its long-term strategy for the region’s rail and bus systems amid a bleak funding outlook.  The Charlotte Business Journal reported Wednesday afternoon that the commission was looking at ways of scaling back plans for a light-rail line to the university area of Charlotte and pursuing private funding for a North Commuter Rail Line to Davidson and Mooresville. Read the full story

4-min interview: Carroll Gray of Lake Norman Transportation Commission talks about how a federal rules change might affect the proposed project, and about an upcoming Urban Land Institute panel to help towns plot the future

Federal officials last week adopted a new policy on evaluating mass-transit funding applications, reducing the heavy emphasis on cost and ridership and giving more weight to the potential economic development benefits of transit projects. That could give a boost to the proposed 25-mile North Commuter Rail Line from Charlotte to Mooresville, says Carroll Gray, executive director of the Lake Norman Transportation Commission. Read the full story

A lack of funding and has changed the picture. How will it affect hopes for commuter rail north of Charlotte?

The head of Charlotte Area Transit System said Thursday a long-range plan the system’s board approved in 2006 is “no longer financially feasible” and will need to be reviewed and updated in the coming months. Read the full story

Updated Thursday, 9/24/09, 5:13 p.m.
Mayors from north Mecklenburg spoke out at Wednesday night’s Metropolitan Transit Commission in Charlotte in hopes of keeping alive the North Corridor Commuter Rail Line, which they fear is being lost in the shuffle as Charlotte leaders push for other projects. Read the full story