CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Gateway Station is part of the large-scale mobility plan in the Queen City. It will integrate residential, commercial, retail, and transportation infrastructure, all in Uptown.
But it’s been years since the project started. Many Charlotteans are wondering where things stand now.
City leaders say this is a big undertaking and it will take time. The idea is that when the project is complete it will be a major transportation hub for people traveling long distances or for daily commutes to work, giving people more ways to get around. That is something that residents want to see.
“People have different needs and different places they need to be, so to have a facility like that would greatly facilitate all of that,” said Paul Farish of South Charlotte.
“I think it is just good to have options, especially cost-efficient ones both local and hubs to connect you further,” said Xavier Kingston of Gastonia.
The Charlotte Gateway Station is where key connections to buses, light rail, and Amtrak services will meet, but the timeline is not so clear.
“People might of had an expectation that we would be further along than we are right now, but the work does continue,” said Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs. “The commitment is there. We are going to get it done -- it just takes time.”
Phase One was completed back in 2022 with the construction of the tracks and structure for Amtrak. Developments like offices, retail, and apartments will be built around the station in Phase Two.
Driggs said the private developer has been chosen and is working to see what makes the most sense in the area, adding market trends have changed since the COVID-19 outbreak.
“In that time, the paradigm has shifted, in terms of demand for office space, and residential and so on," he said, "so I think they have been updating their plan."
In the meantime, Greyhound will need a temporary home after its lease ends in August as the project moves forward.
“They do need to work at the site, and we know that Greyhound will need to be somewhere else at least for a while during the construction,” Driggs said.
Finding a suitable location is not so simple, though.
“There was one location that was proposed in the University City area,” said Driggs. “But people are a little sensitive there on what can happen around a bus station and whether that was an ideal location for it.”
Driggs says they are looking at other locations in Charlotte. The goal is to have Greyhound back at the Gateway Station when construction is complete.
Once design plans are finished, Driggs said they can start to look at engineering, architecture, and the construction of the station. He adds that plans also take infrastructure in the area under consideration for walkability and sidewalks. Those are the kind of efforts groups like Sustain Charlotte want to see.
“We want to make sure it is safe for people to get there. It is very walkable, and there are other modes of transportation like bicycling, scooters and of course walking – all connecting safely, and conveniently,” said Eric Zaverl, an urban design specialist with the group.
He hopes to see the project pick up more speed.
“Growth is not stopping,” said Zaverl. “We can’t put a pause on that. More people are still coming here, more things are being built, and we are lacking in that critical transportation infrastructure.”
Driggs said they expect to view a final plan by the end of the year. Once that’s done it will give a better timeline on the completion of the station and project as a whole.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.