ajfunder

^The Stonewall option would likely terminate at Gateway Station if I had to guess. Honestly, I don't think it matters that rail is already in place on Trade, I am fairly certain it would have to be replaced to accommodate a traffic separated Silver line anyway (unless Trade is closed). Might as well have two lines through Uptown at that point, one which serves as a circulator for Trade and another which services (hypothetically) Metropolitan, the promising Stonewall corridor, Blue Line, South Tryon, and BofA before terminating at Gateway.

I like the Stonewall alignment. Would it also utilize Charlottetowne, am I reading the map correctly?

Really bad loss to the Nuggets, inexcusable to lose to a lottery bound team like that, especially with the playoff race so tight.

CP taking over Norfolk Southern would be terrible for the rail industry overall IMO and CP's management has a slash to the bone mentality. The North American rail market needs more competition, not less... Just my $0.02

I was told by a friend in the know that Novant dragging their feet has really hindered Grubb's master plan for Elizabeth and that Novant is hesitant to allow the development of anything other than hospital related structures on their land. Is this a plausible reason for the lack of progress on Grubb's master plan on Elizabeth?

Just curious, when did CATS add the reflective red and white warning striping on the streetcar? Wasn't there last time I was in CLT in early January.

I am currently living in Boulder where RTD has recently opened the Flatiron Flyer in conjunction with adding bus pull offs and managed toll lanes on US 36. The bus service is a stop gap for a long delayed commuter rail line. There are multiple versions of the bus with different termini and stops but they all utilize US 36. The FF1 runs on 15 minute frequencies while buses like the FF2 run at rush hour. The service is essentially a frequent regional bus service with access to shoulders and tolled express lanes rather than true BRT. I can completely envision a similar service on I-77 as a short term replacement for the Red Line. Although I eventually want to see the Red Line, a bus system like the Flat Iron Flyer would be an excellent service for the lake area and all the individual towns. I must add though that most Boulder residents still feel cheated with the promised rail being delayed while the rest of the Denver metro received rail, even with the new bus service.

Oh cool those locomotives are from the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad in Colorado (another Iowa Pacific operation). I rode behind them a few year ago in Colorado.

A few things for those superstitious fans. Broncos are forcing the Panthers to wear black ( they are wearing white) because of their own history losing every Super Bowl where they chose to wear orange. Panthers have never won in the post season wearing anything but white (9-4 in white, 0-2 in black). 10 of the last 11 teams wearing white have won the Super Bowl (hopefully we can make 10 of the last 12). Also, the Broncos are 5-0 this year with the referee assigned to the Super Bowl. Not that any of this really matters, just a few interesting factoids.

I ended up flying in this afternoon from Denver. The original plane had a mechanical issue but luckily because of the snowstorm American had a few extra planes stored at DIA to replace the first aircraft. In an ironic fashion the snowstorm worked to my advantage today.

I'm flying in at 11:45am from Denver on Sunday. Chances I make it? I'm very concerned.

The Lakewood Trolley group is also in possession of Charlotte Trolley #85. It was moved to the mill a year or so ago. CATS tested it right before the move and it worked flawlessly.

^I can tell you as a person who has torn their ACL once that he may appear fine but he is likely not close to ready to return to the field. After about two months you are typically able to walk perfectly fine and maybe even jog slightly but a full recovery (full strength and lack of scar tissue) usually takes 6-8 months. The ACL really is an injury which just takes patience and time to heal, otherwise you risk reinjuring it.

^I'm not certain there is a firm timetable but if they want the first phase done by 2017 I would assume relatively soon. I believe most of the negotiations are with the county.

I was able to see renderings for the rebuilt Memorial Stadium from a friend in the Independence organization. Very little of the original stadium is preserved but if the plan is carried out as I saw it I have no issue with a new stadium. I have some of the renderings but I have been asked not to post them yet as negotiations with the county are ongoing therefore I will describe the plans the best I can: The first USL phase is essentially the lower bowl of the new stadium. I was told 2017 is the year they hope to move to Memorial. The MLS stadium plans call for the bridging of Charlottetowne and Kings Drive to create plazas on either end. The Grady Cole center would be demolished. The road that currently encircles the stadium would be closed. An extension of the greenway would run along the northern edge of the stadium connecting Little Sugar Creek to Independence Park and utilize the new underpasses. The stadium itself is a full lower bowl and an upper bowl which encircles 3/4 of the stadium with a overhang providing weather protection. The one end without the upper bowl opens up with a view of Uptown. The location and design along with the view of Uptown would make this one of the best stadiums in the MLS if it ever (hopefully) comes to fruition.

Charlotte Sun-Times is reporting the streetcar may have to close for 9 months to modify the platforms on the existing Gold Line. Any truth to this? The original source is WCCB.

Observer is reporting that someone was struck and killed by a light rail train early this morning at the Archdale station.

For what it's worth, the streetcar made a couple of appearances in ESPN's Monday Night Football Coverage.

^Could LRT be funded through the vehicle tax?

I assume extending the platforms at Tyvola and Archdale will be fairly costly since they are both elevated and will require retrofits to extend the platform.

Some CATS officials I talked to said they would keep them for special events while a few others said they would probably sell them. I don't think CATS has any concrete plan yet.

^Are you sure that's not for the platform expansion work?

1,100 is what I heard as well.

CMPD's enforcement of jaywalking is zero to none. I have had many close calls around the Ball Park as well. It is also really bad around Presbyterian hospital on Randolph and by CTC. Also turning vehicles fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians when they have a walk sign.

They've been operating with only one streetcar for the past few hours. It's kind of frustrating especially during the lunch rush.