Charlotte Center City Streetcar Network

[ajfunder]

Personally, these cars are works of art and they reflect craftsmanship which has been lost to time. That being said, I do agree they aren't ideal in selling the modern streetcar concept. I do hope they find other uses for them (ie P&N trolley) after the modern cars arrive.

[Niner National]

Personally, these cars are works of art and they reflect craftsmanship which has been lost to time. That being said, I do agree they aren't ideal in selling the modern streetcar concept. I do hope they find other uses for them (ie P&N trolley) after the modern cars arrive.

I think it'd look fantastic running through the old residential streets of Wesley Heights as a tourist attraction. Just looks out of place in a modern city like we have.

[Boricua]

Personally, these cars are works of art and they reflect craftsmanship which has been lost to time. That being said, I do agree they aren't ideal in selling the modern streetcar concept. I do hope they find other uses for them (ie P&N trolley) after the modern cars arrive.

Do we know when the moderns get here? A start date?

[Guest]

Do we know when the moderns get here? A start date?

When the 2nd phase is completed, so 2017 is the best case scenario.

Edited April 7, 2015 by Guest

[15895]

I think it looks great rather have modern but ill take these

Now what I think looks tacky is those black rails. Maybe the shelter will distract from it

Edited April 7, 2015 by AirNostrumMAD

[dubone]

I'm excited to see the progress.   

 

I hate the coincidence of the budget crisis with the opening of this.   It is really just a fraction of the city budget, but of course as a symbol of progress to progressives, it will be a symbol of waste to regressives.  

 

I can't wait to be back in those cars.   It is funny because it reminds me fondly of the initial 7th to Tremont streetcar line before we knew if we would get funding for light rail at all.   It acted like a pilot and the success of that helped drive the imagination and tell the story to get funded (many regular folks used to say 'extend the trolley to 485' etc).  So hopefully this Phase I will be successful enough to do the same and reduce some of the criticism.  

[southslider]

Yesterday at lunch, or first day of testing, saw three cars loading near CPCC, students crossing outside crosswalks, and a Mercedes parked over the white line, despite all the sign clutter telling one to not do so. This is going to be one slow learning curve.

[navigator319]

This is going absolutely nowhere and CLT does not need to worry, but it is amazing to me anyone votes for these people.  Stripping away their already invalid ass backward logic and simply asking yourself how does this country compete globally with policies like this, you cant answer that any other way then purposefully and willfully trying to do harm.

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article18213116.html

[cltbwimob]

^^^so let me get this straight...

About a year ago, when the market had gas prices $1.25-$1.50 per gallon higher than what they are now, no one seemed to be too worried about the price of gas. Today, however, some of the neocons in congress are willing to decimate public transit in the US to avoid raising the gas tax a couple of pennies per gallon. In other words, the market can bid up the price of gas purely in the name of profit for its players, and that's ok. However the government can not raise the price of gas by a marginal amount in order to create a funding mechanism to fix our inadequate, failing, and in some cases, dangerous infrastructure even though a) consumers would still be paying much less for gas than they were even last year, and b) we would become a more competitive country as a result.

Here's an idea for Congressman Sanford, how about we raid his Argentina/Appalachain Trail trip fund to help alleviate some of the deficit in the highway trust fund.

[illustration82]

Although I'm sure this bill doesn't stand a chance of passing, how does is jeopardize the Blue Line extension? I thought funding for the extension was already awarded.  It also seems like it shouldn't jeopardize the Gold line extension either since that is already scheduled for possible approval later this year. Am I missing something? If this bill is passed, and that is a big IF, it would phase out funding over the next five years according to the article.  By that time Charlotte would have secured funding for both projects, right?

[southslider]

Just build rail to Argentina, I mean the "Appalachian Trail," and the junior senator from the lessor Carolina wouldn't want to redirect transit funding.

[kermit]

Although I'm sure this bill doesn't stand a chance of passing, how does is jeopardize the Blue Line extension? I thought funding for the extension was already awarded.  It also seems like it shouldn't jeopardize the Gold line extension either since that is already scheduled for possible approval later this year. Am I missing something? If this bill is passed, and that is a big IF, it would phase out funding over the next five years according to the article.  By that time Charlotte would have secured funding for both projects, right?

The BLE is as safe as any federal project. Since a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) was signed 18 months ago the federal, state and local governments are all obligated to pay their share of the initially estimated construction costs. If the project does not get finished then the city and state will be forced to repay the federal govt their 50% share of the costs.

The Gold Line Phase 2 project has not been given an FFGA yet. Its appearance in the president's budget suggests that they intend to fund the grant but no official agreement has been reached and no promises have been made. IMO the largest threat to the GoldLine P2 is the city's current budget crises (which was primary a product of the republican legislature in Raleigh, IMO) plus the inevitable hamfisted big government meddling by the teapublicans.

[Spartan]

Just build rail to Argentina, I mean the "Appalachian Trail," and the junior senator from the lessor Carolina wouldn't want to redirect transit funding.

 

You meant Congressman from the original Carolina, right? I don't care for Sanford either, but if you're going to insult him, at least do it accurately. One thing that North Carolinians might not know or understand about Sanford is that he does stuff like this all the time. He is 100% fiscal conservative, and he will propose pretty much anything to make that point abundantly clear. He was elected on that basis when he was in the House the first time, which in turn got him elected Governor of South Carolina. His district as a Representative is mostly in Mount Pleasant - which is like the Ballantyne of Charleston (albeit with it's own government). My point is that I wouldn't read too much in to it. I'm sure he would be thrilled if it were to advance somehow, but there would be too much opposition for relatively little gain in the big picture.

Edited April 13, 2015 by Spartan
Toning it down

[southslider]

Yep, Congressman, or lessor Senator.

[RiverwoodCLT]

Sanford is like the anti-rail people in Charlotte.  To them,  it is a waste of money.

Edited April 14, 2015 by RiverwoodCLT

[orulz]

Today, however, some of the neocons in congress are willing to decimate public transit in the US to avoid raising the gas tax a couple of pennies per gallon.

Just to be clear. Neocon is pretty different from Tea Party. Neither is particularly desirable in my opinion, because they take some pretty extreme stances on many issues, but neocons sort of tended to focus on hawkish foreign policy and using the military to spread Freedom throughout the world, while giving little more than lip service to fiscal conservatism (think Bush era). On the other hand, Tea Party is generally in favor of doing whatever they can to decimate government, and are not generally as concerned with projecting American military power abroad.

[RiverwoodCLT]

If cars were getting 10 to 15 miles per gallon,  the transportation budget would be in good shape.  But due to a mandate to increase gas mileage,  the budges Is running short.  It does not take a brain surgeon to know what to do.  If they would raise the gasoline tax by 5 cents, it would help solve some of the budget shortage.

[teeg]

I received the attached postcard in the mail today.  I assume that it's because I live close enough to the line that they want to scare the bejeezus out of me.  

 

[go_vertical]

That flyer reminds me of something I hadn't thought about and that is the stopping distance. Naturally, the streetars will keep plenty of space between it and the car in front of it. Now, we all know that will provide just enough space for some self-centered d-bag to jump in and cut it off. I have a feeling this will be an ugly introduction period.

[ajfunder]

^I watched some of the testing last week and it is amazing how many people park and wait to load along Elizabeth by CPCC. There was also a FedEx truck unloading and a CPCC truck blocking the tracks. The streetcar was being escorted by two police cars and the journey through CPCC was extremely loud as they tried to clear a path for the streetcar. The resulting scramble by the drivers was humorous. I guess it's part of the learning curve.

[Skyybutter]

I will probably never use this but Im so stoked about it. Living in Philly it was a daily part of my life. Just the sound they make is so city. For those concerned about the traffic jams they might create, isnt that part of the reason we are on this site...to promote ideas and projects that will allow us to abandon our care when we can and live an urban life here in Charlotte.? Thanks are really coming together for the city. The streetcar, BL Extension, BB&T park Beardon park....the list is endless. What a lucky city Charlotte is. And its only geting better. Looking for some good retail uptown now. The Banana maybe?

[southslider]

If you are driving Trade and Elizabeth, you're not in a hurry. There are so many parallel streets that move faster. Sort of wish they'd just make Trade / Elizabeth into a transit mall.

[CLTProductions]

If you are driving Trade and Elizabeth, you're not in a hurry. There are so many parallel streets that move faster. Sort of wish they'd just make Trade / Elizabeth into a transit mall.

I am hoping, way down the road when Grubb develops, that Elizabeth from Queens Rd (the Hospital) to Chartlottestown Rd will be pedestrian/streetcar only. Seems like a street thats prime for something like this.

Edited April 16, 2015 by Jayvee

[jtmonk]

I'm not too sure about the whole transit mall idea for Trade Street and/or Elizabeth.  While there are a few examples where this concept has been successful, there are a number of examples where it has been a disaster.  Now this is just my opinion, but i fear that if this were to happen, it would discourage retail/development in the area and make the place seem less lively.  This area just isn't developed for that type of corridor at the moment, you need the right mix of retail, office, residential, etc. for this to be successful.  Now maybe in 20 years from now, like Jayvee stated, and if the streetcar is a major success and this area develops into a true urban destination then maybe it's something we can look into, but even then, it would be a hard sale for me. 

[birky]

I received an email from the group who put together that petition to save the streetcar.  They're saying that several members on the city council are ready to move against Phase II of the project.  Take with a big grain of salt, but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

https://www.change.org/p/city-of-charlotte-save-the-charlotte-streetcar-extension/u/10511841