CHARLOTTE, NC – Hundreds of people and pets walk and run down the light rail trail in South End every day. People take a dangerous shortcut across the tracks almost daily. Soon there will be a safer pathway across the tracks. “Every time I see someone cross [the tracks], I think you’re taking your life into your own hands,” Kimberly White said. “It’s not wise, even if you don’t see the train, it’s just not wise to do. It’s very unsafe.” To avoid a quarter of a mile walk around the track to the nearest crossing near Hawkins Street and Tremont Avenue, people hop over the tracks. Charlotte Area Transit System officials identified the problem two years ago. “The more times that people do that and continue to do that, and as more people move into the area, then that just creates a greater safety hazard,” Todd Thorne, Engineering Program Manager for CATS said. “So, we don’t want to wait until someone gets hurt to try to address that issue.” CATS officials are considering a $24 million dollar solution by adding a new light rail station between East West Boulevard and New Bern with a pathway to Publix. Officials unveiled the design at a public meeting Tuesday evening. “We’re midway through design right now, that is to design the project, build the stations, build all of the hardware that goes with it, including a crossover that allows the trains to switch from one track to the other, which will both help the system after the project is finished and later while we’re in construction,” Thorne said. “We will also finish building out the rail trail where there’s a gap behind the Auto Bell area that that has never been built.” Some transit users hope CATS officials also look at ways to offer more service. “Expand further out into the city. Maybe the airport would be a good idea,” Josh Beron, South End resident said. While in the design phase, CATS officials are accepting public suggestions and feedback. The project is scheduled to be complete by 2028.