n opportunity exists to create an approximately 30-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail supportive of plans for a regional transit rail corridor serving multiple communities north of Charlotte. The proposed Red Line Trail is planned to connect Iredell and Mecklenburg counties from downtown Mooresville to uptown Charlotte, passing through Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville and Charlotte. This north-south trail corridor is complimentary to the east-west corridors currently included on master plans for bicycle and pedestrian facilities north of Charlotte. The existing greenway master plans for this area currently direct bicycle riders onto high volume, high speed roads which are not well suited for the safety and comfort of most bicyclists.
 
    The need for a dedicated off-road, north-south route to allow bicycles and pedestrians transportation access to proposed CATS Red Line transit stations makes this project a vital connector to greenway and bicycle transportation routes already adopted by local public and private entities. The possibility of achieving this connectivity has captured the attention and commitment of a visionary group of regional planning organizations, citizens and staff; this Red Line Trail Initiative Group has worked to shape the nature and scope of the project and to begin an initial feasibility report. The concept of the project has already received unanimous endorsement from the Town Boards of Cornelius and Davidson. Mooresville and Iredell County have already included the route on their greenway master plans. Additional presentations and requests for endorsements will be sought from the remaining jurisdictions in early 2012.
 
    The current plans for the Red Line Trail are for the trail to begin in downtown Mooresville and continue to the Derita area, about 4 miles north of Charlotte.  In Derita, due to development close to the existing rail, the trail will move to follow the corridor for Irwin Creek Greenway, continuing into Charlotte near the Panther’s Stadium.

To view a map of the proposed CATS Red Line Rail and already proposed greenways and bicycle routes click here

Overview Fact Sheet

Red-Line Trail Presentation

Red Line Trail Flyover Video
To view this video you will need to have a media player on your computer
- The CATS Red Line Rail is shown in red and blue circles for proposed transit station locations
-The yellow line indicates a general potential route for the Red Line Trail
- Green and blue arrows indicate connectivity provided in current bicycle and pedestrian master plans. 
 
For more information please contact Gwen Cook by phone 704-432-1570 or by email at gwen.cook@mecklenburgcountync.gov