Third Street/Convention Center station

3rd Street/Convention Center is a light rail station for the LYNX Blue Line in Center City Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is located on an elevated platform above 3rd Street and partially covered by One Wells Fargo Center. It has side platforms, which sit on either side of the tracks; nearby, the Blue Line continues through the Charlotte Convention Center between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Stonewall Street.[1] Notable places nearby include BB&T Ballpark, Bank of America Stadium, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Knight Theater, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Overstreet Mall, Romare Bearden Park and The Green.

Third Street/Convention Center station
LYNX light rail station
Jody Pinto shelters on the eastern side.
Location	305 East Third Street Charlotte, NC 28202
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
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	June 28, 2004
Rebuilt	November 24, 2007
Previous names	Convention Center
Services
Preceding station   CATS   Following station Stonewall toward I-485/South Boulevard Lynx Blue Line Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena toward UNC Charlotte–Main   Former services   Stonewall toward Atherton Mill Charlotte Trolley Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena toward 9th Street

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]

Public art

As part of the CATS Art in Transit program, the 3rd Street features several pieces intended to provide a better overall aesthetic for the station. The most notable work at the station is the lighting created by the artist Jody Pinto.[4] 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] Additional works include bas-reliefs entitled Gingko by Alice Adams, drinking fountain basins designed to look like dogwoods, the North Carolina state flower, by Nancy Blum and track fencing featuring dogwood leaves by Shaun Cassidy.[5]

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. Dellert O'Keef, Judy (Summer 2007). "Sheltering Passengers with Art: Pinto Transforms 3rd Street Station" (PDF). South Transitions. Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved September 29, 2007.
5. "3rd Street Station: Art in Transit". Charlotte Area Transit System. Archived from the original on November 29, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)

External links

• Media related to 3rd Street/Convention Center station at Wikimedia Commons
• 3rd Street station site plan from CATS
• 3rd Street Station
• 3rd Street entrance from Google Maps Street View