How much will it cost to ride the streetcar? Will it
differ from the current bus fares or the light rail
system?
The streetcar fare has not been decided, but fare
pricing for bus and light rail has been determined.
Various factors have to be considered including
travel distance, convenience, and consistency before
a cost per ride is determined.
The above is part of a FAQ post from Charlotte(NC)/Mecklenburg regarding the new streetcar system. It has got my nomenclature all tangled up. My understanding was that Charlotte already has at least one antique trolley line, and that a more sophisticated light-rail network is underway, final completion not until 2025 at the earliest.
Seems most everyone else calls a pole-to-wire trolley, however antique, a "trolley" or occasionally a "streetcar" as in Toronto. Seems they also refer to a new (usually pantograph-based) system of trainsets that runs on ROW or city streets, a "light rail."
The above quotation treats "light rail" as though it were something that already exists; and treats the term "streetcar" as the bigger system now begun, the one with fares yet to be determined.
I have two questions: (1) Is CATS using terminology that is almost completely reversed from what I'm used to hearing in other systems? In other words, is what they are calling "light rail" what most of us would call "antique trolley" or "streetcar"? OTOH is what they are calling "streetcar" actually the dedicated light-rail system that is much more comprehensive in scope?
(2) Along with this goes my original question, one that I have not been able to answer by googling Charlotte/Mecklenburg, CATS, and so on: What is down there now for us wireheads? My cousins live about 40 miles from Charlotte; and when I visit at Christmastime I'd like to take the kids on Amtrak from Salisbury into Charlotte and then ride whatever they've got that runs on rail from overhead electricity. Are there any residents of the Queen City who can clue me in about what's there, or what is anticipated to be there by December 2007?
Much obliged for any information. - a. s.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Ok, here is the scoop. CATS will open its new South Corridor LRT on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. There will be two days of free trips, then regular service will start on Monday. The line runs from Downtown Charlotte, to just north of Pineville, NC. There are a number of park and ride lots, including a very large one adjacent to I-485 and South Blvd,. This one is interesting as its adjacent to and at a lower level then an existing school, and when finished, the schools athletic facility will be built on top of the parking garage.
NOW the problem- we have a large anti-transit- build more roads contingent here in Charlotte, who have managed to get on the ballot for next Tuesday a referendum to repeal the 1/2 cent sales tax that provides much of the funding for the CATS system. The theme that are pushing is "NO More Trains", but they will also decimate the bus system, too as 65% of the sales tax supports the bus system. We shall see on Tuesday if we have a transit system or not.
The historic trolly was suspended during the upgrade of the line for the LRT, and will return in the spring, MINUS the one real historic trolly, from 1890 which the FRA has ruled can not be used. We have 2 reproductions.
For info on CATS the web site is www.ridetransit.org, or it it acn be reached through www.charmeck.org
matthewsaggie wrote: Ok, here is the scoop. CATS will open its new South Corridor LRT on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. There will be two days of free trips, then regular service will start on Monday. The line runs from Downtown Charlotte, to just north of Pineville, NC. There are a number of park and ride lots, including a very large one adjacent to I-485 and South Blvd,. This one is interesting as its adjacent to and at a lower level then an existing school, and when finished, the schools athletic facility will be built on top of the parking garage. NOW the problem- we have a large anti-transit- build more roads contingent here in Charlotte, who have managed to get on the ballot for next Tuesday a referendum to repeal the 1/2 cent sales tax that provides much of the funding for the CATS system. The theme that are pushing is "NO More Trains", but they will also decimate the bus system, too as 65% of the sales tax supports the bus system. We shall see on Tuesday if we have a transit system or not. The historic trolly was suspended during the upgrade of the line for the LRT, and will return in the spring, MINUS the one real historic trolly, from 1890 which the FRA has ruled can not be used. We have 2 reproductions. For info on CATS the web site is www.ridetransit.org, or it it acn be reached through www.charmeck.org
I am very pleased to report that the voters on Mecklenburg County defeated the repeal of our 1/2 cent sales tax for transit by more then 70%! The original sales tax in 1998 had only 58% support. The anti-rail crowd was stunned, and even we supporters expected a much closer vote. Polling was showing about 55% support.
To turn about what the many right wingers around here of fond of saying since 2000, "You lost, sit down and shut up".
Gastonia Gazette newspaper said Charlotte's light rail was suppose to debut on Nov 24. A man was ran hit and died during a test this past weekend.
Gary
Well CATS opened its new Blue Line LRT last Saturday to tremendous crowds. The train was free on both Sat and Sun. The estimated number that tried out the train was over 60,000! On Sunday there were over 40,000, including an estimated 11,000 who used the train the the Panthers Game. (The train was the best part, since the Panthers suck this year).
Regular paying service started on Monday. We have estimated that the line would be generating 9,100 (this is what we told the Fed's in the funding application) trips a day within the first year. On Monday we had over 7,600 passengers and on Tuesday the official total was 8,092. A great start. Confidence is high that we will well exceed the projections. (the first 2 days were actual body counts, as we had staff at every station to help new riders and actualy count heads.) As the system is a "proof of payment" type operations, there will be some estimating of non-payment riders in the future, though Siemans suposedly has some technology that will count persons entering the car, though I don't see how that can work.
The line runs past the new Arena in Charlotte and many first time riders used it to get to the Bobcats NBA game (At least he Bobcats are winning some) and the Stevie Wonder Concert last night.
If you come to Charlotte, come try out the first light rail line in NC.
When the sales tax that funds mass transit was on the ballot, fewer people voted to repeal it than signed the petition to put it on the ballot, thus proving my belief that petitions are silly. People will sign anything you put in front of them.
Charlotte's planned system is a combination of vehicles. Light rail (electric trains) along rr right of way from Pineville to The University area in the opposite corner of the city. Commuter Rail (Diesel pulling cars) from Center City up the lake to the county line. Modern Trolleys around City Center. Dedicated busways from City Center to Matthews, though the Matthews residents are demanding it be changed to light rail. And "Enhanced Bus Service" (whatever that means) to the airport.
For some reason known only to the planners, the light rail does not connect or come in contact with either the commuter rail, the Amtrak station, or the tenth busiest airport in the country.
Light rail costs $1.30 per trip. They have day, week, and month passes. They also have game day passes for $2.60 so that you don't have to fight the crown to buy your return ticket when the game lets out. You can transfer, at no additional cost, to and from the busses that serve the stations.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
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