2030 Transit Plan

[monsoon]

^We have had this discussion before. LRT does not have the bandwidth to make much difference in large sporting events. I recommend a search to see the discussion on it.

[Andyc545]

A thought just occured to me and I'll admit it is very limited, very temporary, and would have problems. I think a very big (temporary) boost and added reason to speed up the line to UNCC would be football. UNCC want's a football team and they don't have a stadium. It takes several years to plan a new stadium and get a program ready to go. It takes several years to get a LRT up and running as we've seen. If 49ers play their games at BOA stadium, the students could ride the NE LRT from the campus to the stadium. That would give the NE line an added boost of something like 120,000 rides (6 home games x 10,000 students x 2 way fares), being conservative I think, for a year or two. While this in no way justifies the line, I was just thinking that it could be an added bonus in addition to all of the aforementiond riders that are wanting to go downtown for bar trips.

[Raintree21]

I don't care about making a difference at their sporting events and I never said it would. If it helps their athletics program out then that's just an added bonus and makes Charlotte as a whole more appealing. The goal is to make the LRT system and mass transit successful and adding 120,000 riders will help it along.

[monsoon]

^The point is it won't add 120,000 riders nor anything close to it.

[Andyc545]

I'm afraid of repeating information or informing of something that has already been informed: anyway, tomorrow at the Westin there is a "Streetsmart: Streetcars in the 21st Century" workshop. There is a PDF file if you go to this website: http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/ and click on the link that has the "Charlotte Agenda". There is a lot being referred to and using the examples of success from Portland. There will be several big names there including the mayor, Grubb, Debra Campbell in Charlotte Planning, John Muth of CATS, Ron Tober of CATS, etc. It looks like a very worthwhile event that I wish I could have checked out, but have to work. The workshops run from 7:45am until after 5pm. It sounds like the city of Charlotte is really eager with going ahead on the Streetcar system, given by all of this news and changes over the last week, then workshops, etc...

[Spartan]

True, you can't just keep adding routes. But even if I wasn't personally gaining from the Presby stop I would still think it was viable. It's a major hospital which employs a huge number of people. Some of them which live uptown. Other that don't live uptown but still take the bus to work. They would easily be able to catch the Gold Rush from the transportation center instead of waiting around for a transfer bus. Which sometimes is a long wait. I know, I use the bus daily.

There's not much in the way of a large employer on the Beatties Ford side of town so I don't see that it would get as much use as a Presby extension would. It's also only a few more blocks from McDowell.

Anyway, back to the subject, we need a street car to the inner neighborhoods and we need it before 2018.

[Raintree21]

The expected controversy of the reasons behind the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg endorsing the Transit Tax have arisen. In an Observer article, Dwayne Collins, chairman of the caucus, said the pledge to move up the streetcar influenced his decision to support the tax. Although that "pledge" was from City Councilman James Mitchell, not the MTC, who makes the final decision. He says that he didn't promise anything but that in his opinion, the streetcar plan could be moved up on the timetable.

[monsoon]

Its my understanding that some of the funding for the Gold Rush comes from the banks, which is why they are only an uptown thing. If you know otherwise, please correct me because I haven't verified that yet. I would much rather see something done to improve the GR service. Its heavily used, and I find that very often they are so full that people are left waiting on the next trolleybus to come around.

[monsoon]

The expected controversy of the reasons behind the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg endorsing the Transit Tax have arisen. In an Observer article, Dwayne Collins, chairman of the caucus, said the pledge to move up the streetcar influenced his decision to support the tax. Although that "pledge" was from City Councilman James Mitchell, not the MTC, who makes the final decision. He says that he didn't promise anything but that in his opinion, the streetcar plan could be moved up on the timetable.

[Charlotte_native]

I have heard that the banks either pay for, or chip in for, the Gold Rush. Can't say how much and unfortunately can't recall where I've seen it, but I'm pretty sure they do.

[Justadude]

The NE Line is the continuation of LRT of the current South Line. It goes through center city up to University City, for the most part, hitting areas of NoDa and where the new IKEA is, as well as directly goes onto campus of UNCC and would connect their new campus in center city.

[uptownliving]

I have not heard of that. The Gold Rush was originally funded by, of all things, CPCC. Later CPCC decided to drop funding and the responsibility fell to CATS to handle it. This mainly means that funding for the Gold Rush came from a different city bucket. Once CATS took over responsibility for the GR, they moved to remove at least one of the routes and make a few other changes to how the line operates. I don't think, however that it ever ran to Presbytarian Hospital.

[atlrvr]

Does anyone know how CATS plans to address the at-grade freight crossing a block north of 277? It seems that the NE LRT line would have to go over or under the tracks there, and I'm pretty sure, that's a fairly active freight corridor....

[Raintree21]

A VERY active freight corridor. My thinking is that it would be easiest (though not cheapest) to just do what you said and elevate either the LRT or the freight tracks so you don't have to deal with schedules coinciding. Of the two, I think it would be easier and cheaper to elevate the LRT tracks since they are not there yet (don't want to move the freight tracks if you can help it) and the bridge would not have to support as much weight as a freight train.

[monsoon]

Does anyone know how CATS plans to address the at-grade freight crossing a block north of 277? It seems that the NE LRT line would have to go over or under the tracks there, and I'm pretty sure, that's a fairly active freight corridor....

[monsoon]

In regards and response to the African American Coalition Against Transit Tax Repeal this letter is being sent to West Charlotte residents. It's also being reproduced here at this url. http://www.westcharlotte.org/

CRIME ALERT????:

Dear Ministers and Community Leaders,

I am on the Citizens Advisory Committee for CATS and I live over in Mint Hill.

Around Seventy Five Million Dollars is missing from your Neighborhood, and we need your help to stop any more from being taken by your Elected Officials.

Hidden in the South Boulevard Rail is Seventy Five Million Dollars in work that should have been spent in areas all over Charlotte to fix sidewalks, piping and other infrastructure. Your local Elected Official agreed with this, as they felt it was the best for the City of Charlotte to let your neighborhood go wanting so South Boulevard could get a nicer look to help the light rail.

You are receiving this letter because of your position as people who care about your communities and are willing to take action to make things better.

The African American Coalition Against Transit Tax Repeal says it is going to help the Charlotte community. It is led by former Charlotte Mayor, Harvey Gantt. Mr. Gantt is currently a board member of Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP) and the press release for the announcement of this new group was sent out by Moira Quinn of CCCP. When was the last time, that Charlotte Center City Partners did anything for your community, other than demand your vote for something that benefits others? In fact, why is it, Elected Officials are not to be found except around Election Time? And these past Elected Officials are never to be found, except when the powers downtown want to put the right face on their allies. Avery Staley, who is starting the African American Coalition Against Transit Tax Repeal effort, is a fund raising specialist for the Charlotte Area Fund. Will Center City be favoring the CAF in future funding?

What about Center City Partners? They are unique to say the least. It seems they get to collect a special tax from the downtown area and then use this for what purpose they deem necessary. Including getting more money for downtown. Did you know that taxes go to this organization but the government has NO Oversight over their operations?

Elected Officials were voted in because they proved to us they were problem solvers and innovators. On Tuesday, September 19th, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Democratic members voted against taking preventative action to protect the bus system in the event that the transit tax is repealed. Why are they scared? And where is that Statesperson we voted into office? This transit tax could be placed back on the ballot in the Spring and does not require further permission from Raleigh.

A 2.5 million dollar war chest has been raised from what we have heard for the keep the tax advertising. This money has come from the Big Businesses and Center City Interests who will directly benefit from collecting your Nine Billion in Taxes that will be paid on Trains. In the business world it is called leveraging. In Charlotte it is called standard operating procedure. Remember my group a few years ago who pulled together twenty five thousand dollars to get Private Security Patrols in Optimist Park and the Belmont Community? We stopped crime that Summer and the Elected Officials just ignored us. With this 2.5 Million I would get these private patrols in all the troubled areas of town.

There are options available which do not require tax increases or bus service cuts and we ask that you contact us to discuss them. We would love to have someone come out and speak about this very important issue to your group.Make Elected Officials tell you why they spent your money and make sure they do not take anymore for Train.

Make transit funding fair to all communities here in Charlotte. Larry Bumgarner 704.573.3363 www.TrainDrain.com

[email protected]

Larry Bumgarner I graduated from West Charlotte in 1973 See the www.WestCharlotte.com website for information on our Ole West Charlotte

[uptownliving]

Wow, I would have to say that is a classic example of political propaganda. Very little of that letter has to do with transit, instead it is personal attacks against elected officials and the CCCP using half truths and outright lies. I think it is sad that Larry has stooped to that level so he can gain attention to his cause of having a bus only transit system in Mecklenburg.

[Mobuchu]

WOW, talk about low....

"Hidden in the South Boulevard Rail is Seventy Five Million Dollars in work that should have been spent in areas all over Charlotte to fix sidewalks, piping and other infrastructure. Your local Elected Official agreed with this, as they felt it was the best for the City of Charlotte to let your neighborhood go wanting so South Boulevard could get a nicer look to help the light rail. "

I truly hope the people of the West side don't buy into ridiculous comments like this. What a terrible letter to send out.

[Justadude]

Larry Bumgarner has been an internet troll on transit issues for years. The grammatical errors in his letter are testament enough to his education and level of intelligence.

However, this kind of communication is obviously meant to appeal to the exceedingly gullible ("we will tell you what the alternative strategy is, but only if you call us and set up and appointment at your house to discuss it... we don't want to mention it right now"). Unfortunately that seems to be an effective political tool, and will undoubtedly sway some votes here and there. Let's just hope that the majority are reached by more legitimate, informed sources on both sides of the argument.

[28202]

Well that tactic will only isolate those that take the bait. Hopefully information will prevail.

[dubone]

It typically doesn't, but we can always hope.

I do wonder though, based on the experience of the petition itself, whether all that guy needed to say was 'repealing the tax creates lower taxes'. Apparently these days, even minority Democrats are for lower taxes uber alles.

Let's just hope the suburban white male republicans vote, as they are apparently the group that supports the transit tax and the rail plans, if that poll is to be believed.

[Spartan]

WOW, talk about low....

"Hidden in the South Boulevard Rail is Seventy Five Million Dollars in work that should have been spent in areas all over Charlotte to fix sidewalks, piping and other infrastructure. Your local Elected Official agreed with this, as they felt it was the best for the City of Charlotte to let your neighborhood go wanting so South Boulevard could get a nicer look to help the light rail. "

I truly hope the people of the West side don't buy into ridiculous comments like this. What a terrible letter to send out.

[uptownliving]

LOL, yep nevermind the fact that "hidden" $75M for infrastructure along the South Corridor was voter approved bonds in a citywide election. It was so "hidden" that only a couple hundred thousand people in the city knew about it and voted on it.

[monsoon]

While you guys take the time to personally deride Larry Bumgarner, and refer to the people who might take notice of what he placed in this letter as gullible idiots, you completely miss the importance and relevance of what is in this letter.

A number of posts back in this thread, I said that many residents in this city, who also happen to be voters and pay taxes, are fed up with all of the city's resources being spent within a few blocks of downtown. Charlotte is building a gleaming emerald city, while significant parts of the city are left to decay into dangerous crime ridden areas where property values are actually falling, the local schools have become marginalized and isolated, and crime is a serious concern. People who live in these areas are feeling completely left out of the decision making process in Charlotte and resent the money being spent by what they see as the "big interests" on themselves.

Case in point, is the complete lack of a rail system leading to either East Charlotte and West Charlotte in what is supposed to be Charlotte's system of the future. There are promises of a streetcar far off in the future, but as this letter demonstrates, there are frustrations with these kinds of promises that are never materialized and the fact that so much money is being appropriated to tell them how to think about the matter. Personally I don't think these streetcars will ever be built (I've stated why above) and the latest attempt of the "establishment" to make promises that it can't keep on the matter has only hurt their credibility further.

Not one of you has tried to understand and ask what can be done to address what Larry has written and instead have decided to attack him and anyone who might actually take notice of it. Do you actually think this is going to help get this community to back transit again?

.......

Let's just hope the suburban white male republicans vote, as they are apparently the group that supports the transit tax and the rail plans, if that poll is to be believed.

[uptownliving]

Not one of you has tried to understand and ask what can be done to address what Larry has written and instead have decided to attack him and anyone who might actually take notice of it. Do you actually think this is going to help get this community to back transit again?