danclever

Many thanks. Very interesting. Worse than an Amshack? http://snow.prohosting.com/usarail/durham.htm

Can anyone point me to data that show how many passengers use each of NC's rail stations (per year)?

I'm glad to hear they still want to accomodate the NCCU team. I wonder how they'll keep the Blues and Beer festival there, especially if they have to keep a natural surface. Those events really beat up the field. I suppose they could move to Central Park, but it wouldn't be the same.

Just wanted to add that it actually thrived, despite perceptions of crime and the ongoing streetwork.

Not too shabby. Maybe I'll take my bike for a weekend to Charlotte? I saw this USA Today headline while passing by a newsstand. It's about the increase in rail transit http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-1...ridership_x.htm It's nice to hear an airline industry analyst say that Amtrak is in some ways more convenient than air travel.

Yeah, at that time there was little will to spend money on that kind of restoration. Out with the old- in with the new. It remained an open lot since its demolition. Up until the current plaza reconstruction, it was a parking lot. I'm kind of glad they didn't put something new in it's place, given the architectural fads of the time. Before the Washington Duke/Jack Tar I think the city hall occupied that space. The post office originally sat where the CCB/Suntrust Tower is today.

I should have thought of that as a factor. This is good to show those who maintain that rail transit does not work. I'm glad the bike-on-board program is still in the works. This is the kind of innovative thinking that will increase ridership over time. You can actually take a bike onto any Amtrak train now, but you have to disassemble it and check it as luggage. Being able to bring your bike in one piece will encourage more people to combine these modes. Durham's present and future station are close to the American Tobacco Trail and greenways. Also, the downtown streets are being redeveloped in a manner that is more bike-friendly. Does anyone know how easy it is to ride a bike around the Raleigh, Charlotte or Greensboro stations? There could be great connections, but I don't know.

Saw this today in the N&O: http://dwb.newsobserver.com/news/ncwire_ne...p-9411371c.html 22% gain in ridership for the Piedmont. The article doesn't explain the increase. Is it gas prices, congestion, or both? Didn't realize that the bikes-on-board had faded away. That is a cool idea (but how bikeable are the downtowns on the line?).

I was quite happy to read that this weekend. That will get more people down to that part of town and give the old DAP a new life. The Central Park area is looking better all the time. I only hope they can still fit in some of the festivals. Going to the Blues and Beer Festivals there is a blast. Would astroturf really be able to handle that kind of use?