MZT

I would think Ghazi can get some kind of court order for H&C to environmentally secure what they've built, and if they don't, that Ghazi's crew can do it... then sue H&C for the cost of that. More liens, more mess. I suppose those 2 floors can ultimately become managerial offices for the commercial centers, or something.

News of the mundane... I think gas prices are getting soem of the Park'n'Rides to grudgingly fill up. I'd say Arrowwood and Scaleybark are more than half dull now.

They never finished the tower above the Arcade in Asheville... from 70 years ago...

That is one disadvantage to the voluntary ticket system. With punched fares (as on the bus) you could buy a "10 ticket ride" and use them as you need them. The Lynx setup forces you to choose between monthly pass or ticket-per-trip.

Since the line has opened, and gas has risen $1 a gallon above already high prices... I cannot say that there has been any serious change in the utilization of Woodlawn, Tyvola or Archdale parking. Tyvola has a large overflow lot next to South Blvd, which is often empty. Archdale is maybe 1/4 full. I usually park at Arrowwood, which is perhaps 1/3 to 1/2 full most days. We know about the overcrowding at Sharon Lakes and 485 stations. So I would say the ancedotal evidence to me is that the LRT is viewed mainly as a commuting alternative right now. It will take 5 years or so of transit-oriented infill before this pattern shifts. And even then - it'll be mostly from Scaleybark north where the LRT functions in an urban sense. For what it's worth, there is an express bus stop just five minutes walk from my house. But I still drive to a LYNX station. The Express bus takes longer than the car/train combo (by about 10 minutes) and it runs on a limited schedule, while LYNX runs round-the-clock and is more flexible.

You are all making me SOOO glad that I stayed home this weekend, and didn't try to go uptown and "pop into work for a few hours".

I tried to outsmart the situation and got burned. I took #19 down Park Rd to Tyvola and then waited FOR AN HOUR for #60 to arrive and ferry me me one mile to the Tyvola parking lot where my car was. Sheesh. I shoulda just walked.

I had my first experience this week comparing express bus service on 45x (Carmel Road) with driving to a Lynx station and taking the train. I think the parking/train combo is a little better. It's nice to have the upholstered seats of the bus, and the bus is a little quieter without the LOUD announcements you hear on the Lynx. But the express bus is about a 50 minute ride, which is a long time to be cooped up. And you still get to sit in traffic and feel the bumps in the road. Some people may not like being on the train platforms "outside in the weather" - but I guess I like the option to pace and wander about while waiting, or to sit on a bench and feel more rested than on a moving bus.

If they really HAVE to do this, I think a monthly or yearly parking sticker would annoy people less. I normally park at Arrowwood or Archdale right now anyway. (I suppose those lots might become more full though, if paying to park at 485 or Sharon Lakes is implemented.)

I was at the Meck County board meeting a few nights ago, and I think the tightening picture for the budget is going to shut down any talk of buying more train sets. They're going to spend the next couple of months just trying to figure out how to cover a 70 million dollar funding gap. They may succeed in covering it, but if the economy weakens there will probably be a larger gap next year, and talk of a property tax increase will be in the air. Baaaad environment politically to talk about buying trains or raising the sales tax to a penny.

Casual observation for me has been that the inner-ring park and rides are lightly used. The 485 and Sharon West stops have lots of cars, which indicates to me that LYNX appeals to commuters more than people in town. Even CATS has admitted they over estimated the necessary size of the inner-ring park and rides. Some co-workers have asked me about the train, but they're still driving. It seems to be that you need to already be a 485 or 77 commuter to want to "avoid traffic" or "avoid paying parking fees". I guess gasoline isn't expensive enough yet for people in town to switch en masse from driving.

The Tyvola lot is in two sections... one under the tracks that most people use, and another next to the First Citizens' bank building off South Blvd. This morning, there was ONE car parked in the extra lot. So, plenty of room there.

3030 is one thing, but the horns are not really that noisy for most people. My old home in Starmount was basically 2 residential streets away from the tracks. You had to pay attention to even notice the horns. Ambulance and Fire Truck sirens on South Blvd, are worse.

It *is* true that the Norfolk Southern arms come down for no apparent reason sometimes. I've seen this before at Archdale and at Arrowwood. I guess it does make people complacent (and irritated to be stopped for "nothing".)

I filled out the survey too... told CATS I get monthly passes now so that I don't have to use the machines anymore. They're too slow and too often out of service. (And yes, I agree it seems to take a long time for a machine to be ready for the next purchaser.)

It's easy to forget what a huge hole this block was two years ago. Or what a dead space it was when the old convention center was there.

With the economy slowing down, it may not matter much who is running the Federal administration next year. Charlotte may need to plan on coming up with more than just 50%, in order to step to the front of the line for transit funding.

Even when tickets are issued, I would not be surprised if first offenders can usually get waived. The goal is to get people to pay and ride, not spook them into fearing the train Gestapo and avoiding the train.

It might be less than that. Not every train that leaves is a double train, and with 7.5 minute intervals that's 8 departures during the rush "hour". Some will be singles. The unknown here, is how willing are Charlotteans to cram on the trains. We saw some truly packed trains on opening day... I would not be surprised if there were more than 236 per train then. We have expats from the northeast that may think it's no big deal to cram on board, but I still think most people around here are not psychologically prepared to be so close to strangers every day.

I think what we may be seeing is that people are more willing to ride than the skeptics claimed in November... but are less willing to be packed onto the trains Manhattan style, than CATS is waiting for. I've already overhead passengers saying they're thinking about switching back to the express busses, because they "have upholstered seats, and you can at least get to sit". I do also agree they are running all the trains. In order to maintain 7.5 minute intervals on a 9.6 mile track, you'd about have to. I remember on opening day, I was told they would not run a mixture of doube and single trains because it confuses people where to stand on the platforms. Well, they broke that rule already.

You all are just providing more and more reasons to get the monthly pass... The trains are already getting so crowded at rush hour, that people will let a train pass by in the hope of catching the next one being less full. Today I was at 3rd street, wanting to go south and back home. I deliberately took the northbound train up one stop to CTC, just so that I could catch the southbound train there, and get a seat.

I saw a fare examiner tell a guy today "you better get off" - so it looks like we're still not quite at the stage of immediate ticketing.

I've seen homeless guys urinating in the corner pockets of stations, and loud, crass teenagers. But I don't notice as much cranked-up-earphones effect among the passengers like I did on the bus. Maybe people can sense that the train is a shorter trip, and don't need to try as hard to shut out the world around them. Admittedly, the former problems were back in December, too. I think that now that the trains are being used more - either there is more surveillance or just less bad behavior "in public". I'll also add, that I've overheard the ticket inspectors last week telling people "no more warnings - it's for real next week" IE tomorrow. We'll see if they are ready to stick to it.

To me it sounds like the irrational exuberance has been blown off, and developers are "getting a grip" that Charlotte is not going to be the next Manhattan full of million dollar condos. Flippers will get creamed here, just like in Miami and Las Vegas, and prices will fall until rents will support the financing.

When the trains are as crowded as they have been after Bobcats games, it would be a very clumsy effort to check tickets.