Creasy336

Orulz, that bus you see takes Alamance County commuters from Graham to UNC-Hospitals via NC 54. From what I've seen the route is popular (everytime I've seen the bus in the morning alot of people were riding) despite the park and ride station being no more than a gas station for now.

If the Charlotte area interstates that had burnt out lighting had reflectors and brighter striping, then they would be safe and acceptable in most cases. Unfortunately my headlights that help me see great also didn't do that great when I was going through a complex poorly lit I-77/I-277 urban interchange with worn striping, and NO reflectors. Lighting on interstates is not essential, but I-77 in that area is easily the most travelled stretch of interstate in the Carolinas, and safety in that area could definetely become more of an issue as daylight decreases.

I was in Charlotte tonight with family from New Jersey. I must admit you guys were right about Charlotte's dark interstates. It has gotten worse in the two years I've been gone. Most of I-85 (the new and old sections), and I-77 were dark. I had people in the car scared and nervous when I exited from I-77sb to I-277. I know some forumers from the area have written NCDOT, but one more letter shouldn't hurt. There is no excuse for a county of nearly 1,000,000 people, and one of Americas top cities to have roads that dark.

I wouldn't be suprised if cities and regions offered an incentive package to get a new racetrack. That 350 Million wouldn't be as bad then for Smith.

I care because I want this thread to get more feedback. I feel this thread will grow more if its in the Charlotte thread. Thats all I have to say. I'm done on this topic.

True it doesn't say anything about Charlotte region, surrounding counties or municipalities. But places like Mooresville, Concord, and Kannapolis are often discussed there. You also can find multiple threads on those surrounding cities there. This topic should be pinned in the Charlotte sub forum. Fayetteville probably is the only area of NC that could have a sub forum outside of the ones we currently have.

Doesn't this thread belong in the Charlotte section???

Great News. Hopefully we do see the Raleigh to Wilmington Line in the future. The Goldsboro station would also work well if the NCRR, the State, and local goverments get Triangle commuter rail from Goldsboro to Burlington. This station would be perfect for a commuter/inter-city rail. I wonder what the area around the staion looks like. Edit: In the article it mentions the possibility of passenger rail to Morehead City...I found that interesting though I don't see that happening any time soon.

Yeah actually this story came out about 3 to 4 years ago in the Burlington Times News. The NCRR must be increasing efforts to get people to pay for the use of their land (land either they didn't know about or care about until recently). I do feel sorry for the property owners who "own" the land adjacent to the tracks, but I have to percieve this similar to a highway project. Anytime people buy a house located to a busy/important street their is always the possibility you'll lose land due to widening, sidewalks, turn lanes etc...

The NCRR has big plans and needs it's space .

I am curious to know the cost of implementing a basic shuttle train to link Winston-Salem with Greensboro. On this train any passenger from Forsyth County and surrounding areas would be able to catch the train in Downtown Winston-Salem and ride to Downtown Greensboro, there they could connect with any amtrak train that stops at the station seemlessly. The same leaving back. One station at Kernersville could be added also. This would help our region get a jump start on transit, and help reconnect Winston-Salem to passenger rail in the state.

I thought they were part of the same company. TJ Maxx is a better fit for this development

for starters the name PART is kind of cheesy ... But seriously, I guess I need to check their website, but does PART serve the Triad's major employment centers?? Is it ineffective transit in that it doesn't go where the people need to go effectively. I remember when I was younger I would catch the blue line TTA bus in Chapel Hill and go to South Square mall. This was a popular route and easily accessible from Franklin Street. Is it just me but I don't think that this hub and spoke system works well with our local bus systems. If we can correct whats wrong on the local level, the regional level should have more success.

Sadly, I might have to agree as far the Triad is concerned. Maybe we'll get some commuter rail from the Triangle into Alamance County though. an responding to DaAchiever I feel you might be correct as far as saying that PART might be a failed organization but what could they do to be better?

I think HOT should incorporate an elaborate street grid like some of out better planned cities in the world. When was the last time an area like the Triad had a chance to create a "new city" with a CBD for the Triad. I know there currently is a plan to have HOT be gridded as far as major roads, but Id like to see as many roads as possible incorporated. I want this area done right the first time.

Maybe "The Great Indoors"

$300 million 1,040,000 sf 2,500 worker ??? Now that would truly change W-S and the Triad forever. Were any sites mentioned? or were they just looking at the area in general? I'd love to see something like this on the east side of Winston as the Triad beginning to focus an employment center near the HOT.

I guess you've never driven on I-40 through Durham and Raleigh where there are NO lights at all and it seems like you're driving through the forest.

Great picture Flash, I've always loved how you can see the Winston-Salem skyline from the mountains as far as southern Virginia. Pilot Mountain is truly a natural treasure to our region.

Maybe Escada will come to the Fila space at SouthPark?? or is it too small? After doing some research they tend to be in most Neiman Marcus stores if they don't have their own seperate boutique.

A short-term fix for I-40/85 would be to extend all of the on-ramps to the next exit's off-ramps between I-840 and Mebane Oaks Rd. Only 3 bridges would have to be reconstructed due to future interchanges planned. But back to the NCRR subject. Having commuter rail from essentially Winston-Salem to Burlington is major. It would give Winston-Salem a critical link to Amtrak in Greensboro (until the SEHSR comes online), this line would also give us a chance for a stop at PTIA and give it a much needed boost in passenger traffic. If the commuter line was scheduled with existing amtrak trains (plus the future mid-day piedmont train) the Triad's way of life could change dramatically. Students could ride the trains to school being that every university and college seems to be located in close proximity to the rail corridor (excluding Wake Forest Univerity), people could also commute to work. Lets face it...if this commuter line ever happens, it will come into fruition way before PART starts its commuter rail line. To me PART's commuter line sounds just like all the other cities and regions on Urban Planet who hope to have commuter rail but thats about it. Atleast the people who own the tracks are interested in possibly making this happen.

A little off topic but I was driving South on I-95 in Virginia last weekend and was in traffic (sometimes completely stopped) from the Springfield interchange (Just outside of Washington DC) to downtown Richmond a distance of well over 100 miles in traffic averaging 30 MPH ,and there were no accidents! I can easily see I-85/I-40 becoming that bad in the upcoming years. DaAchiever I think your statement about the next I-95 is very much on point. If we can get the mid-day Piedmont train added I think NCRR can make all the trains complement each other forming a more comprehensive commuter rail especially between Raleigh and Greensboro. Taking the required reservations to ride off of all Amtrak trains, and adding ticket machines at all stations would go a long way too.

Its great to see the NCRR start getting involved with commuter rail in the state of North Carolina. According to the site the NCRR would look at serving Triad commuters from Clemmons to Burlington, and Triangle Commuters from Burlington to Goldsboro. I am curious to see if the two regions would be broken up with a transfer in Burlington or just one commuter line. I would have to imagine having the regions broken up would be more convenient with fewer delays and better schedules.

Friendly Center is kind of out of the way for many Triad residents. Yes I know its off of Wendover Av, Greensboro's second busiest highway behind I-40, but Friendly Center is a good distance into town which at this point in time might discourage people from making the journey. I would like to see US 70 routed down Wendover Av, this would help with recognition and navigation and indirectly increase out of town traffic to Friendly (Also make Greensboro's highway system less confusing). My first thoughts were that The Cheesecake Factory would come to Friendly Center because of the centers upscale retailers, and "newness" . It would kind of be like Charlotte's Southpark Mall in the way that it isn't easily accessible by interstate, but then I realized the amount of residents in Southpark's locale, combined with the amount of office space and destination retail that isn't offered at any other mall in the area. I have to agree with DaAchiever when he says an upscale retail location in the HOT would be an ideal location. I believe if the stand alone Macy's off of Guilford College had a new indoor section of high-end retail built adjacent to it forming a new mall, I could see The Cheesecake Factory coming then seeing how this area is visible from I-40, and close to High Point, Jamestown, and the higher end areas of Greensboro.

Im from NC and ACC country, but when it comes to NCAA football I have to put West Virginia at atleast #2. Their offense will truly be a force in college football...For me I have #1, USC #2, WVU #3 Texas