By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

It’s a busy week for meetings about the proposed Red Line Regional Rail Project. Mooresville’s Red Line Review Committee meets Tuesday morning. And what could turn out to be dueling meetings are scheduled Wednesday at Cornelius Town Hall – one with an anti-rail expert from the Cato Institute and another featuring a panel discussion with large property owners who support the project. Meanwhile, owners of property in downtown Davidson along the rail line have been invited to a Wednesday afternoon meeting explaining how the proposed financing would work. Read the full story

Retired Cornelius Commissioner Jim Bensman says Norfolk Southern executives told him two years ago there were concerned about the Red Line rail project’s design and whether freight and passenger traffic could co-exist along the line. Now, in two letters released recently, those concerns are now public. In a commentary on CorneliusNews.net, Mr. Bensman writes: “All the municipalities should cease their evaluations of this project until the Norfolk Southern situation is resolved.”

Consultant Mark Briggs explained the rail line financing plan Tuesday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson residents and elected officials at a public hearing on Tuesday quizzed consultants and offered their opinions about the proposed Red Line Regional Rail Project between Mooresville and Charlotte. Some wondered about plans to raise money through special tax districts, and about the business reasons for pitching the project as both a freight and commuter line. Others worried how the system might affect Davidson traffic and affordable housing.

About 50 people including town staff filled the Town Hall board room for the meeting. Speakers came from throughout town, and their questions and comments ranged from deep suspicion to support of the $452 million rail project. Read the full story

Updated Wednesday, 7:52 a.m.
By DAVID BORAKS
and CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
DavidsonNews.net

The Red Line Regional Rail Project is facing another major roadblock this week: Norfolk Southern Corp., which owns the tracks it would run on, is balking at the idea of commuter and freight rail operating on the same line.

In a meeting with N.C. Department of Transportation officials Jan. 11 – the first between the DOT and Norfolk Southern since planning for the rail was revived last year – company officials raised a long list of questions. And in a followup letter to the DOT’s top Red Line official, the company’s passenger policy director expressed “fundamental” concerns over the feasibility of the Red Line project. (See the text of the letter below.) Read the full story

Davidson’s Town Board on Tuesday will devote its monthly work session to a presentation and public hearing on the proposed financial plan for Red Line Regional Rail Project. The Red Line also is the topic of a Lake Norman Chamber Focus Friday issues session Friday morning in Cornelius. And also this week, there’s a MI-Connection board of directors meeting Thursday.

Meanwhile, a planned meeting of the Cornelius Rail Task Force that had been scheduled Thursday has been canceled. Read the full story

Backers of the proposed Red Line Commuter Rail Project are seeking approval from area governments, saying all must be on board for the plan to work. But there’s another player in the background that determine whether the project goes forward: Norfolk Southern Corp., which owns the tracks north of Charlotte. And the Charlotte Business Journal reported Friday that Norfolk Southern officials have lots of questions about the project including whether commuter service is viable on the line.

LINK: Jan. 20, 2012, Charlotte Business Journal, “Norfolk Southern is not on board with Charlotte transit plan.” – Reporter Erik Spanberg reports on Norfolk Southern’s “broad range of concerns” and questions about the project.

The head of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce said this week the chamber supports the idea of a rail line north of Charlotte, though current plans to pay for the line require “proper analysis.” Chamber members will get a closer look at the $452 million Red Line Regional Rail Project during the next Focus Friday issues session on Jan 27.

Read the full story

Iredell County Commission Chair Steve Johnson speaks during Tuesday's meeting. (Christina Ritchie Rogers/DavidsonNews.net)

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
and DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

STATESVILLE – Iredell County commissioners stopped short of killing the Red Line Regional Rail Project Tuesday night, though they may have only delayed the inevitable. In a 5-0 vote, commissioners approved a statement saying they would not support the project unless concerns about financing plans and future development are addressed. Read the full story