Third Strike

Public meetings being held for the next phase of the Gold Line: https://www.charlottenc.gov/CATS/Transit-Planning/Gold-Line-Extension#section-2

Found this on Reddit. Had no idea Raleigh and Charlotte were near the top in the amount of dense development being built. Honestly, the entire South is crushing it.

Congress were the ones that passed the proposed I-73/74 extensions. Same reason why I-74 shouldn’t be used in NC (never mind interlining with US 74) and why I-99 in Pennsylvania violates our “interstate grid”. To be far, I doubt NC will ever build that part of I-74, especially since it cuts through wetlands and it is incredibly low on the state’s priorities, since it would only really benefit South Carolina. I can see I-73 getting built to Myrtle Beach from NC, but not I-74. It’ll probably quietly end before reaching Leland.

Construction starts Monday to restore the bus lanes on Independence Blvd. Should take about two months to finish: Independence Boulevard bus lanes reopen soon

The Kings Square, which is the shopping center across from the Metropolitan, is up for sale. This shopping center is also next to the lot where Baxter Place would go. I wonder if the new owners would keep the shopping center, or pursue a complete redevelopment. Arby’s and a Bank of America are also on this block, but I’m not sure if they would sell their parcels.

Is the old Sears space still empty? With the future Blue Line extension slated to pass by the mall, the owners should really consider redeveloping this parcel for mixed-use purposes. Heck, even if they don’t want to demolish the mall, you can still do so much with placing shops, offices and apartments in the surrounding parking lot. In general, I’m honestly surprised many mall developers don’t try this approach before allowing the mall to completely shutter.

I wonder if the section between Greensboro and Raleigh will get future investment. It’s single lined between the two cities and plenty of at-grade crossings.

Regarding the Charlotte/Kings Mountain Amtrak proposal, does this mean a short route from Gateway to a new station in Kings Mountain or just adding a new stop for the Crescent? It’s highly unlikely, but I would love a new station for Belmont and the airport (connecting to the proposed people-mover), serviced by the Crescent.

Another article seems to indicate high rates of automobile crashes into utility lines as the main factor for the burial project. https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/central-ave-construction-wires/275-212258e5-8d71-4626-b7be-a6dbc753af77?fbclid=IwAR3YXfZTnGJLIiL4aUFO07aUYm3Y66uL3ZwqsJmttS-HHbTxEEE_tI4MjRs_aem_AXuQp8pgrUMP8aHYtFEtcCPwm5Kykv7yVteklxs1SVGsFQ6grb0W9LM7nstaiUUDyfg#lphrirv8lnnxxu9po48

Central Avenue, between Prospect Street and Louise Avenue, will be reduced to one lane in each direction for the next couple of months. This is because the overhead lines are planned to be buried: https://www.wbtv.com/2023/11/21/cdot-section-central-avenue-be-partially-closed-months/?fbclid=IwAR1906XzpZwMi16qvhuEy1pQG5blg9hIKcfQa24an8OuOoczkTYaTTUoq3I_aem_Ac_E_dChFZ844RmqVDRDceKIMX6nXF2GjNlC8LOBOeCy4A-F76F0JRTgRB6qvET1AHE#lpar8m00b1h8i6kcvhg

So I’ve seen this question floating around several transit groups I follow, but how feasible would it be to use highway ROW for building high-speed rail in America? ROW acquisition is pretty expensive in America, but many highways, especially suburban and rural highways, have plenty of space that could be used for mass transit, especially for HSR. A greenfield option was chosen for the Charlotte/ATL HSR, but wouldn’t the I-85 option be a much cheaper alternative?

Might be related to the Aldi project planned for that shopping center.

Looks like merger talks between Cedar Fair and Six Flags are back on the table: https://www.journal-news.com/news/reports-cedar-fair-and-six-flags-in-talks-to-merge-may-be-announced-this-week/A27WAXV2LRD4ZA67XIIPGPSZCQ/

Spot on. I used to live at the terminus of the Pascack Valley Line, which runs from Hoboken, NJ to Spring Valley, NY. The line is mostly single track, except for some areas where it double tracks for train passing. The line is also about 30 miles, which is only about five more miles in length than the Red Line. There were times when the train would have to stop on these sidings for another train to pass, but the PV Line also runs trains in both directions every hour or so, which would be significantly more than the frequencies the Red Line would have, at least in the beginning.

I wonder why NS would change their mind on potentially allowing passenger trains on their line. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t there some parts of the O-Line, between Charlotte and Winston-Salem, that’s been out of service for quite sometime? Maybe NS is hoping any passenger rail on this line means improving the line with federal funds? Either way, not complaining if this goes through, for both the Red Line and Amtrak service between Winston and Charlotte. Edit: Also find it interesting they would consider selling the line outright. I hope the NCRR/NCDOT jump on that, if that’s an option, even if passenger rail comes later. Also interesting that Winston has a better chance of a rail connection to Charlotte than Greensboro. Depending on the frequencies and the time, could open up some economic doors for people living in Winston that want to work in Charlotte.

This was posted on the transit subreddit and the slide was presented at the opening of the Brightline Station in Orlando. Note the CLT-ATL corridor on the map:

I think it would have to be an auxiliary of I-26. None of the even I-85 designations are available and are used elsewhere in the state. They might want to avoid I-226, because NC 226 is currently used and crosses US 74 in Shelby. I’m going to guess and say I-426, I-626 or I-826 would be used for this segment of US 74.

Ben Copeland is pro-transit and running for one of the At-Large seats. Democratic primary is next Tuesday.

Cookout is buying the Wendy’s location at Midtown. I’m happy there’s a Cookout right next to Uptown, but disappointed that this site could have been better used for a mixed-use development: https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/09/05/cook-out-buys-midtown-site-wendys-restaurants-nc.html?csrc=6398&utm_campaign=trueAnthemTrendingContent&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR25G9AJvqZf3-MM2ZzLSIW24Yx_Tu0rpjflUmJhWF2PvtILbEajMhmoOXw_aem_AX-Gr41OWOAC1rzdeKUyKNhRAY5ScBZoRzfNfCZyJHw10zJSGfpunJYVNxoXtpuIzU8

Asheville passenger rail line plan sees positive responses from WNC Rail Committee: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2023/09/07/asheville-amtrak-plan-to-be-released-this-month-needs-state-funding/70741363007/ Seems like Norfolk Southern is looking forward to participating in the study of the Asheville/Salisbury passenger rail project. That’s good news and I hope this project is successful in taking off. If the project does happen, CATS and Iredell county should really work together on expanding bus access to Statesville, with a stop at the Statesville rail station. Seems like a no-brainer, especially with the planned BRT route that’s supposed to run from Uptown to I believe Mooresville.

Permit for a Whataburger in East Charlotte/Mecklenburg just dropped in Accela. This would be in the same shopping center with the proposed Publix, on Albemarle Road near I-485:

@kermitdo you think the P&N corridor would work well as a commuter rail line between Charlotte, Mt. Holly and Gastonia? Last I heard was that the NCDOT was struggling to get a freight rail company to lease the line.

I agree with the posts saying Atlanta is more of a priority than Charleston. However, if we ever get an Amtrak connection between Charlotte and Columbia, then maybe Charleston could be a future extension for this line. Though, an extension to Columbia would be pretty significant on its own, since it would connect with the Silver Star and allow easier access to and from Savannah and Florida.

ACWR has announced a Christmas train route, starting in the town of Star. Details of the route are still unknown, but it would be neat if Charlotte was the terminus (though I doubt it, especially if the Gateway isn’t done… Maybe NoDa near 36th Street?). Even if it isn’t Charlotte, hopefully it’ll run through the Uwharrie National Forest, which would be a scenic ride.

Looking like an Aldi is going to be built at this shopping center. Address is different on this permit, but at the same shopping center but on the opposite end. https://aca-prod.accela.com/CHARLOTTE/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=LandDevelopment&TabName=LandDevelopment&capID1=23LBX&capID2=00000&capID3=00302&agencyCode=CHARLOTTE&IsToShowInspection=