Third Street/Convention Center station

3rd Street/Convention Center is a light rail station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The elevated dual side platforms are a stop along the Lynx Blue Line in Uptown Charlotte.

Third Street/Convention Center station
LYNX light rail station
Jody Pinto shelters on the eastern side.
General information
Location	305 East Third Street Charlotte, North Carolina United States
Coordinates	35°13′25″N 80°50′35″W
Owned by	Charlotte Area Transit Systems
Line(s)	Lynx Blue Line
Platforms	2 side platforms (in service) 1 side platform (abandoned)
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
Bicycle facilities	Bicycle racks
Accessible	Yes
Architect	Ralph Whitehead Associates
Architectural style	Modern
History
Opened	June 28, 2004
Rebuilt	November 24, 2007
Previous names	Convention Center
Services
Preceding station CATS Following station Brooklyn Village towards I-485/South Boulevard Lynx Blue Line Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena towards UNC Charlotte–Main Former services Stonewall towards Atherton Mill Charlotte Trolley Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena towards 9th Street
Location

Location

The station is located above 3rd Street and is accessible from Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, via sidewalk and the Charlotte Rail Trail, and 3rd Street, via stairs and elevator.^[1] It is partially covered and adjacent to the Hilton Charlotte Uptown hotel, part of One Wells Fargo Center; and is also adjacent to 300 South Brevard, the Charlotte Convention Center, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, catercorner at Brevard Street. Other nearby landmarks and popular destinations include: 200 South Tryon, 300 South Tryon, 400 South Tryon, BB&T Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte Plaza, Duke Energy Plaza, Johnston Building, Knight Theater, Latta Arcade, Overstreet Mall, Romare Bearden Park, The Green, Two Wells Fargo Center, Three Wells Fargo Center, and Truist Field.

History

The station, originally known as Convention Center, first opened for service on June 28, 2004, for the historic Charlotte Trolley and was located adjacent to the Charlotte Convention Center. Originally with one track active and one platform, it operating for little over 19 months, before closing on February 6, 2006. When the station was reopened in November 24, 2007, it was grouped together with the newly constructed 3rd Street platforms for the LYNX Blue Line and was rechristened collectively as the 3rd Street/Convention Center.^[2] Regular service with fare collection commenced on Monday, November 26, 2007. Charlotte Trolley service resumed on April 20, 2008, but was scaled back to weekend and special events in 2009. In 2010, the Charlotte Trolley service was discontinued, leaving the Convention Center platform abandoned.^[3]

Station layout

The station consists of two main side platforms, both of which includes a low-level area for heritage streetcars, and is partially covered by the Hilton Charlotte Uptown hotel; other amenities include ticket vending machines, emergency call box, and bicycle racks. A third unused side platform, located adjacent to the Charlotte Convention Center, is for trainspotting and gathering. The station also features several art installations, with its most notable entitled Light Station, by Jody Pinto. The display encompasses 20 illuminated fiberglass canopies that also serve as shelter for users during inclement weather. The canopies range in height from 9 feet (3 m), 11 feet (3 m), and 13 feet (4 m) and are either green or berry in color.^[4] Also included is a drinking fountain basin designed to look like dogwood, the North Carolina state flower, by Nancy Blum.^[5] Bas-reliefs entitled Gingko, by Alice Adams; and track fencing featuring dogwood leaves, by Shaun Cassidy.^[6]

Side platform, doors will open on the right
Southbound	← Lynx Blue Line toward I-485/South Boulevard (Brooklyn Village)
Northbound	→Lynx Blue Line toward UNC Charlotte–Main (Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena) →
Side platform, doors will open on the right

References

1. "3rd Street Station". Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
2. Harrison, Steve; Kristen Valle (November 25, 2007). "Light rail, heavy traffic - Thousands wait in lines for a free ride on 1st day". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A.
3. "North Carolina Streetcar Systems". Retrieved December 28, 2014.
4. "BLE Artist Pinto". Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
5. "BLE Artist Blum". Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
6. "3rd Street Station: Art in Transit". Charlotte Area Transit System. Archived from the original on November 29, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2015.

External links

• Media related to 3rd Street/Convention Center station at Wikimedia Commons
• Charlotte Center City
• Uptown Charlotte