Stonewall station

Stonewall
LYNX light rail station
Looking south across the I-277 bridge.
General information
Location	260 East Stonewall Street Charlotte, North Carolina United States
Coordinates	35°13′17″N80°50′49″W / 35.22139°N 80.84694°W / 35.22139; -80.84694
Owned by	Charlotte Area Transit System
Line(s)	Lynx Blue Line
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
Bicycle facilities	Bicycle racks
Disabled access	Yes
Architect	Ralph Whitehead Associates
Architectural style	Modern
History
Opened	August 30, 1996
Rebuilt	November 24, 2007
Previous names	Westin
Services
Preceding station CATS Following station Carson towards I-485/South Boulevard Lynx Blue Line 3rd Street towards UNC Charlotte–Main Former services Morehead towards Atherton Mill Charlotte Trolley 3rd Street towards 9th Street
Location

Stonewall 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.

Location

The station is located on top of the parking structure for the Westin Charlotte, which it is also adjacent too, and is accessible from Stonewall Street via stairs and elevators. ^[1] On its other-side is the Francis, a luxury apartment complex, with a Whole Foods Market, Home2 Suites by Hilton, and other retail and services. Across Stonewall Street is the Charlotte Convention Center with the Harvey B. Gantt Center, catercorner at College Street, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, catercorner at Brevard Street. Other nearby landmarks and popular destinations include: Ally Charlotte Center, Duke Energy Center, JW Marriott Charlotte, Legacy Union, Mint Museum Uptown, Museum Tower, Regions 615, and Bank of America Stadium.

Artwork

The Wanderwall, completed in 2018, is an eight-story architectural skin installation, located at the Francis parking garage. Designed by French architect Marc Fornes, the blue-green exterior parkade wall is described as elements of flows and networks, with a labyrinthine porosity that allows light through to the garage interior. It was commissioned by both Crescent Communities and the Charlotte Arts and Science Council (ASC). ^[2]

History

The station first opened for service on August 30, 1996, for the historic Charlotte Trolley, with one track and one wooden platform. In 2001, during construction of the Westin Charlotte, the original wooden platform was removed and the bridge over the John Belk Freeway was refurbished. In mid-2002, the station reopened with a temporary wooden platform at the end of the bridge over the John Belk Freeway. In 2003, the station was renamed the Westin Station after completion of the Westin Charlotte; a new platform for the station was built on top of the parking structure of the adjacent hotel. ^[3] On February 6, 2006, the station was closed again for reconstruction for the LYNX Blue Line; the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) decided going forward to call it Stonewall Station again. The station officially reopened for service on Saturday, November 24, 2007, and as part of its opening celebration fares were not collected. ^[4] Regular service with fare collection commenced on Monday, November 26, 2007. ^[4] 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 to the station was discontinued. ^[5] In 2015, the side platforms were lengthened to allow three-car trains at the station. ^{[6] [7]}

Bridge controversy

In 1991 when the South College site was chosen as the location for the new Charlotte Convention Center, the demolition of the original rail span built in the 1950s was imminent. Its demolition became necessary as it would not properly align with the proposed design of the new convention center. As a result, it was demolished in 1991 even though it was a known route for a future light rail or trolley line into Uptown. ^[8] The construction of the replacement span began in spring 1999 and was complete by summer 2001. ^[9]

Station layout

The station consists of two side platforms and 10 covered waiting areas; other amenities include ticket vending machines, emergency call box, and bicycle racks. The station also features several art installations including a drinking fountain basin designed to look like dogwood, the North Carolina state flower, by Nancy Blum. Bas-reliefs entitled Gingko, by Alice Adams. Leaf motifs on both the pavers and shelters, by Leticia Huerta, and track fencing featuring maple leaves, by Shaun Cassidy. ^[10]

Side platform, doors will open on the right
Southbound	← Lynx Blue Line toward I-485/South Boulevard (Carson)
Northbound	→ Lynx Blue Line toward UNC Charlotte–Main (3rd Street) →
Side platform, doors will open on the right

References

1. "Stonewall Station". Charlotte Area Transit System . Retrieved May 19, 2017.
2. "Wanderwall Facade - Marc Fornes / THEEVERYMANY" . Retrieved October 10, 2021.
3. "Charlotte Trolley". June 26, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
4. Harrison, Steve; Valle, Kristen (November 25, 2007). "Light rail, heavy traffic: Thousands wait in lines for a free ride on 1st day". The Charlotte Observer . p. 1A.
5. "North Carolina Streetcar Systems" . Retrieved May 19, 2017.
6. "Community Update - LYNX Blue Line Capacity Expansion" (PDF). Charlotte Area Transit System. July 16, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
7. Harrison, Steve (March 17, 2017). "CATS hoped to ease crowds on light rail trains. Those plans will wait eight years". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
8. Whitacre, Diane (July 18, 1998). "Railroad's bridge replacement a result of many factors". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 1C.
9. Whitacre, Diane (November 28, 1999). "Trolley bridge work to begin". The Charlotte Observer. pp. 4B.
10. "Stonewall Station: Art in Transit". Charlotte Area Transit System. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2008.

External links

• Media related to Stonewall station at Wikimedia Commons
• Charlotte Center City
• Uptown Charlotte