Connecting the Charlotte Region: Why Fast and Convenient Transit to the Airport Matters
Why can’t we get from Davidson or Matthews to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport terminal in 20 minutes? Why can’t visitors landing at the airport reach Uptown Charlotte in less than 10 minutes?
The Airport: A Regional Powerhouse
The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is more than a travel hub; it’s vital to the economic health of our entire region. It is one of North Carolina’s largest employers and the best economic development tool that both North and South Carolina have. Everyday travelers, driving to and from the airport, from as far North as Southern Virginia, from as far West as Eastern Tennessee, from as far East as Eastern North Carolina and as far South as Northern South Carolina, clog our highways and our roads, causing both the travelers and the region’s citizens to lose precious time. The result? - gridlock, pollution, frustration and a drag on our region’s potential.
A Rare Chance to Get It Right
After decades of starts and stops, we’re at a turning point. Senate Bill 145, recently filed in the state legislature, provides a path to put a referendum on the November 2025 ballot. If the Bill is passed by the Legislature, Mecklenburg County voters will have the ability to vote for a modest sales tax increase that would unlock funding for a bold expansion of public transit and roads across the region.
We Must Think Differently
The new Charlotte Gateway Station in Uptown Charlotte will connect Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses, and the existing Gold Line streetcar. However, we must consider a new transit solution to connect the Charlotte Gateway Station to the airport and build the Red Line, Silver Line, and Blue Extension. A “Charlotte Airport Region Line” would connect the separate transit lines in the Charlotte Region to the Airport. It must be faster than driving, have no emissions, affordable to build without causing major surface disruption, and be affordable to use and convenient.
A possible example of this new solution is currently in use in Las Vegas. It uses a system of dedicated underground tunnels with point-to-point electric shuttle service for passengers.
Imagine hopping on an electric shuttle at a station in Davidson or Matthews, traveling underground without fear of delays from surface weather, traffic jams, or jaywalkers, then arriving at the airport terminal in 20 minutes or less.
New conferences and events will choose the Charlotte region because visitors can leave the Charlotte airport terminal and be in Uptown in less than 10 minutes, or stay anywhere near the Charlotte Airport Region Line without having to drive.
Approximately 50,000 airport travelers drive through Charlotte’s roads to reach the airport every day. Just think about the reduced traffic and congestion, and the time saved for everyone if we had a Charlotte Airport Region Line.
Cities like London, Stockholm, and Oslo have demonstrated that more than 70% of airport travelers will choose transit if it is faster and more convenient than driving.
This kind of network wouldn’t just move people—it would stitch our the Charlotte Airport region together, boosting business, reducing traffic, cutting pollution, and making life better for everyone.
Time to Move Forward
Charlotte’s growth isn’t slowing down, and neither should our efforts or ambition. A fast and interconnected transit system linking our communities to the airport isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for a city aiming to compete on the world stage. If the bill passes the legislature and the referendum passes in November, we will have the funding, but like any large public project, our regional leaders will need the courage to pursue a novel solution. It’s up to all of us—residents, small businesses and large employers to provide the support our region’s leaders require—to make the Charlotte Airport Region Line happen. The clock’s ticking. Let’s connect the Charlotte region directly to the Airport, and build the future we all deserve.
