In the spring  of 2024 it was announced that Charlotte City Council, Mecklenburg County, and the MTC (Metropolitan Transit Commission) were planning to abandon the eastern portion of the Silver Line and instead build it as BRT, not rail.

This is a major change to the project that doesn't properly represent the people of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County's desire for rail. The eastern portion, which would serve Matthews, Bojangles Colosseum, Plaza Midwood, and Independence Blvd, would touch thousands of households and jobs, many urban places, and have a significant impact on bypassing traffic congestion. It is an important need for our cities growth and future to have adequate rail accessible to as many of our residents as possible.

The reason we are in this situation is North Carolina General Assembly members have said they would not support funding unless more was dedicated to roads. The original plan from Mecklenburg County would have allocated 80% of funding to rail. The solution was to cut it in half to 40%. The MTC, city, and county then made the decision to cut the most vital part of the transit plan, the Silver Line East between Uptown and Matthews.

Our petitions goal is to share results and comments with NC legislators and local leaders to show that there is a lot of support in Charlotte for the Silver Line being built in its entirety. To let them know what the people of this great city want for its future and its time we as residents get to decide!