South Light Rail Transit

[ngp]

Rush hour traffic on some south Charlotte streets will get a new headache when light rail starts running next year.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/new...=charlotte_news

[MZT]

The roof is on the maintenance facility now.

[dubone]

I think that is such a pointless article. Does the observer report on every traffic signal that stops traffic every 4 minutes?

[tiblerbrit]

Looks like they've removed the track through uptown.

[DigitalSky]

Skyline from Tyvola Bridge

mmm Taco bell.

[MZT]

Moving along... curbing has been placed on the new southbound lanes of South Blvd. They will probably be laying ashphalt soon and redirect traffic.

[RiverwoodCLT]

You can see they are taking up the track south of Morehead Street.

[DigitalSky]

oh wow. thanks for that!

[kpryde4u]

You can see they are taking up the track south of Morehead Street.

how many tracks are there supposed to be??

[UrbanLifter]

It will be double-tracked. You can see the right of way to the right of the current rails.

[revitalize]

It's really great to see this much progress on the LRT project. Makes me think this really could be completed by 2007 as projected...Everone that I mention the LRT to seems to laugh at me for thinking this would be completed any time soon. I can't wait to ride LRT into work uptown and laugh at them sitting in their cars in traffic!

[MZT]

I think the train will be a long term success. There are so many sites along the line that can be redeveloped, and the era of cheap gas is over. Spend some time on theoildrum.com, and try to find any credible arguments otherwise.

[dubone]

It wasn't the best day to be taking photos, but here are some construction updates.

Here are some around Scaleybark station:

The Scaleybark Park and Ride:

Here is the 485 station construction:

A freight train passing Hebron, where the at-grade crossing will remain for LRT:

Tyvola girders, repeated just because it is so cool to see them up:

[Mobuchu]

Thanks for all the pic updates D. Its great to be able to watch all these projects come together. I just wish this wasn't behind schedule, lets hope for some really great whether during the spring and summer to maybe catch up (knock on wood).

Either way it will finish, and be changed from "corridor of crap", to corridor of construction with all the TOD going up.

[brianc]

Do they plan on leaving the traffic lights the same or will they make it look more urban. I think they might look better on poles, and probably safer. ( mainly under the overpasses)

[MZT]

I thought one of the things that got deleted from the budget was preservation of the QP tower? But it's still hanging around.

(I'm not sure it's worthy of preservation, myself. But I suppose it qualifies as a kind of Americana like Zacks or the 21 Burger drive up.)

[dubone]

I have heard that the QP tower might remain, even though it isn't really part of the budget, but I'm not sure. In my view, if budget it so tight, why spend money to dismantle it.

[dubone]

Do they plan on leaving the traffic lights the same or will they make it look more urban. I think they might look better on poles, and probably safer. ( mainly under the overpasses)

I don't think they have plans to convert everything to pole and mast traffic signals, but I have a hunch that the Old Pineville intersections will be.

[graydog]

Tracks removed next to Arena:

[guy4charlotte]

Here's a satirical opinion piece from a Phoenix paper ridiculing their light rail line with a nice compliment regarding the success of Charlotte's LRT:

"The Phoenix Department of Blight enjoyed another strong year in 2005. Any casual drive around town will show our effectiveness, how much we're on track to our goal of making Phoenix 'America's Ugliest City.' But the miles of linear slums, unused seedy buildings and empty lots gathering trash don't just happen by accident. It's hard work. Some of our best accomplishments are on display in the heart of the city, in the Central Corridor where the region's first light-rail line will run. In Charlotte, N.C., which is on about the same light-rail construction schedule as Phoenix, more than $300 million in new offices, condos and stores are being built. Fortunately, Phoenix hasn't fallen into this trap. We've worked to ensure miles of blight in the city's showcase skyscraper district. "

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/o...22talton22.html

[carolina_fan]

Does the current project bring light rail all the way to 9th Street or just to 7th Street? If it does go to 9th Street, will there be a station?

[nyxmike]

Does the current project bring light rail all the way to 9th Street or just to 7th Street? If it does go to 9th Street, will there be a station?

Just 7th street.

Here's the CATS website if your curious:

http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/Home.htm

[carolina_fan]

Thanks guys. I guess just the Trolley goes to 9th Street.

[dubone]

Yeah, between 2007 and 2013, only the Trolley will run from 7th to 9th.

[swh1972]

Pictures are great, even if the weather was bad. Thanks again. I don't get down to that part of town too often, so it's good that I can check out the progress from home.