Joeman

If some progress has been made, couldn't they allow the trains to run? For example, let's say that as we extend northwards, we can get to NoDa. Why not just call that the end of the line until the full line is open? --Joey

Any chance now that Charlotte gets the convention that we could have the Blue Line extended to NoDa by 9/3/2012? The timetable for the whole thing is/was 2016 so what do you all think? --Joey

Have there been any polls on the LYNX Blue line approval lately? --Joey

Yup... from Wikipedia By 2006, a study released by the Charlotte Area Transit System indicated that the cost of light rail along the corridor would be roughly double that of a busway and have fewer riders.[7] The estimates stated light rail on Independence would be 12.7 miles (20.4 km) in length at a cost of $585 million, with a projected ridership of 14,400 in 2030; and stated a busway would be 13.5 miles (21.7 km) in length at a cost of $315 to $325 million, with a projected ridership of 16,000 in 2030.[7] By September 2006, the MTC voted to delay on determining whether a busway or light rail should be built along the corridor until 2011.[8] I don't understand why fewer people would use LRT than BRT unless it is the extra mile on the busway that makes the difference. --Joey

Does anyone have photos of the developments along the Blue line before and after style? Or better yet, a video? I recently moved from Tampa and we are voting on a penny tax this November. It would be helpful in the "comments war"on each article to show Charlotte's progress since we are pretty similar in size and density. --Joey

Why does CATS say that BRT in the SE corridor would draw more people than LRT? --Joey

Hey guys, Long time lurker first time poster... I am a native Tampan this issue has interested me a lot and I have been following Charlotte's progress since opening day. I split my time these days between Charlotte (gf) and SC. While no doubt it is disappointing that the BLE has been so slow in coming, you have to realize we have nothing like the South End with a reasonable transit connection into our core. Our closest approximation may be Channelside. We have a streetcar which is mostly for tourists connecting Channelside, the aquarium and Ybor (picture a bigger, Latin NoDa). The only problem is that people who do live in Ybor or Channelside (and there aren't a ton) can't commute to Downtown because the streetcar starts running at 9am. Moreover, up until now it stopped blocks short of downtown with a big ol' imposing overpass between the skyscrapers and the end of the line. Since there is a chance Charlotte will be my future hometown I am curious as to the 2030 plan. If I am reading it right, will there only be ONE light rail line? Everything else is BRT, Commuter rail, or streetcars? --Joey