All Aboard Charlotte presented the proposal Oct. 15 after more than 18 months of research into transportation options. It calls for 10 new stations, including stops in East Charlotte, Matthews and Monroe. A downtown Matthews building is among the possible locations being considered for a station.

The plan would use existing rail lines rather than build new light-rail tracks, and would extend service farther into Union County than previous regional plans. The group says its estimate is substantially lower than the $7.4 billion price tag associated with the region’s long-delayed Silver Line project.

The comparison comes as the Charlotte Area Transit System plans to build a shorter Silver Line segment, from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Bojangles Coliseum, to reduce costs. Passenger rail between Charlotte and Matthews has been discussed by regional officials for decades.

All Aboard Charlotte has presented its proposal to the MPTA, Matthews town commissioners and representatives from Monroe. But the group has not held direct talks with CSX, whose agreement to lease the tracks would be essential to the plan. Members point to passenger rail services in Miami, Washington, D.C., and Boston that operate on tracks leased from the freight company as examples of a possible arrangement.

Chris Wallace, the group’s secretary and a regular light-rail rider, said the proposal is an effort to find connections the region can afford. He also argued that rail service could reduce residents’ exposure to fuel costs, which he put at about $4 to $5 per gallon.

The proposal is an advocacy group’s alternative, not an approved transit project. Its cost estimate and station plan would need further evaluation, and the group has yet to secure the track access on which the service depends.