southslider

Urban Land Institute is very pro-transit and yet they can even see how Red Linr may doom all other expansion plans by warning Charlotte, "be direct and intentional about its future." In other words, stop blaming Norfolk Southern and show only I-77 BRT as what can be built for the foreseeable future.

^Thanks to this Rockingham project, the Triad will have a continuous expressway connection to Wilmington way before Charlotte ever will.

^After three winters with virtually no snowfall, it was about time for a winter with above-average snowfall.

25th St is a new connection right at a station and prioritized for that very purpose. But for the millions spent on that new street extension, pedestrian connectivity could have been provided in more directions from the station. One of those key directions is the current Amtrak Charlotte station on North Tryon, an area the Cify just spent millions more adding a gridded pair of one-way streets. Of course, Gateway will soon provide a new Amtrak station in a very gridded location, just lacking a convenient connection with the Blue Line.

^Yes, articulated buses again are legal in NC. Not that the old law ever stopped others outside Charlotte, like Chapel Hill. But at least now, CATS would not being breaking the law. And historically, CATS (though then CTS) operated "artics." Nothing is really blocking true BRT on 77 except North Towns hanging on to some fantasy of commuter rail.

^The O line is owned by NS but it may as well be a short line functionally, given its very low traffic. Still, I agree the NCRR towards Harrisburg, Concord, Kannapolis, and Salisbury makes the most sense as this region's first commuter rail line. The favorable ownership and existing infrastructure just make so much more sense along NCRR than Red Line, even despite the funding challenges of expanding outside Mecklenburg. Demographically and politically, Cabarrus also seems the most pro-transit of all of Mecklenburg's surrounding counties. Silver Line can still advance in design, but leveraging NCRR and 77 Express Lanes are the most pragmatic means for CATS to keep expanding respective rail and bus transit in the near future.

^Anything by anti-transit Wendell Cox simply concludes a small share of total regional trips are made by transit. Anyone able to understand how far fewer miles of transit than roadways are located within any given region shouldn't be shocked by Wendell Cox's simplistic findings.

Well, that clears it up. At least voters know Red Line hasn't happened because it can't happen.

"Clear" the right of way?

^Just seems odd to consolidate ramps on Trade St rather than 5th Street, given CityLYNX. Does Charlotte just design everything around the car?

Sure, the State may have more influence over Norfolk Southern, but the local transit agency faces the political consequences for pretending as if the Red Line were ever realistically probable.

True, BRT would have more frequency and cost less per rider, but sadly, North Towns only see the broken promise of commuter rail. Political will matters for successful transit. This is largely why prospects look so dim now for the Charlotte region. Trust has been greatly exhausted, and at the very worst time, when many fear traveling in enclosed spaces with strangers. It will take time to heal and prove credibility with an improved performance record, instead of rushing expansion plans.

^With every new project, reliability has declined on the CATS system. Blue Line Extension made what was once among the most reliable rail transit lines in the US a lot less reliable. Now, Gold Line has made the full Charlotte LYNX system as unreliable as buses, especially now during the labor shortage, when many bus trips don't even run as promised. John Lewis continues to oversee a blatant mess that few voters would ever want to reward with more of their tax dollars.

And North Meck is getting rapid transit with the trusty bus

NC Supreme Court halts candidate filing. Primary elections pushed back from March to May. Extremely gerrymandered districts will likely be redrawn by the Court.

^Hadn't heard, but she isn't seeking re-election

The federal funds used to build light rail couldn't be used to build highways. However, the state funding cap for rail transit is politically motivated. Ultimately, the push for a combined roads and transit tax is more about local politics. Since the first tax passed last millennium, CATS has still not built any rapid transit outside of one line in the City, and only has a rough plan for a second line to reach landlocked Matthews in another two decades. At that slow pace of the past two decades, voters aren't exactly jumping at the chance to pay more and still wait even longer for just one more rail line.

State legislators won't allow Charlotte to raise more local funding for transit. North Mecklenburg won't allow Charlotte to use local funding for any more rail transit outside North Mecklenburg. NSRR won't allow rail transit on or along their line in North Mecklenburg. Until any of these standoffs are resolved, Charlotte won't be taking advantage of the newly expanded federal funding for rail transit.

Realistically, there is no local funding to advance a federal New Starts project anytime soon.

^Maybe go for a half-cent levy only in Charlotte, Matthews, and Pineville, but leave the North Towns and Mint Hill at the current rate.

I'm just glad they're not moving CTC to Gateway, since Silver Line isn't happening.

All the commentary this time of year about ending Daylight Savings Time when what people actually want is to keep it year round should remind us that the American people are to blame for our dysfunctional democracy. Virginia voters buying into the Critical Race Thoery nonsense are just the latest brand of cursed politics we deserve. Just look at the Google trending searches any given day for ridiculous conspiracies. It should come as no surprise how so many can be easily convinced to vote against their own interests.

At this rate, City voters will soon distrust CATS as much as Town voters already do, all in time for a new referendum. Heck of a job, John Lewis.

Very true. And one common-sense rule should be to not split any county more than once. But to put NC redistricting really in perspective- OR's gained seat still could be competitive for a change from 4-1 to possibly 5-1 or 4-2, while NC would go from 8-5 to 11-3 or possibly 10-4. Knowing the game, I don't blame NC Rs for trying to have NC's gained seat be R; I blame them for trying to REDUCE large metro representation, when those are the very areas that gained population.

Not surprising that NC Rs want to increase their seats in Congress not just by 1, as gained by the Census, but by as many as 3, when they already have a 8-5 majority. Guess the courts will just have to map districts yet again.