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Looks like the northern leg of the Blue Line is gonna cost about $900 million, thanks in part to Lizard King and the recall folks. My question is, given the success of the southern leg, is the northern leg worth it? How much more are we willing to pay, as construction prices are more likely to rise than fall?
North light rail's price hits $900 million - * Home Page - Charlotte Observer (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/100/story/233087.html - broken link)
I personally think it is worth it. I am 1000% for Light Rail. Most cities the size of Charlotte have some sort of Light Rail...not all but alot. Looks like the government will be paying for 50% of it too hopefully.
Light rail is definitely worth it. I just moved away from the Hampton Roads area in Virginia (VA Beach, Norfolk, etc...) and the road infrastructure just couldn't handle the enormous amount of traffic that area had. They had a lot of development over a 10 year or so span and getting around was a bear!!!!
Anyhow, they are now trying desperately to get light rail off the ground and are struggling. The area is so developed it's hard to find property to buy in order to build. At the rate Charlotte is developing and the influx of newcomers continue to rise, we'll find ourselves in a similar position if we don't move on it now.
The South end of the Lynx is a testament as to how to do it right and it's been a huge success. The money riders can save on gas, the close proximity of many businesses, the stadium, etc....make the Lynx a great addition to the city.
I-77 north is one of the busiest routes in the region during rush hour. It makes sense to invest in something that will improve the quality of life for ourselves...not some bank(s) that couldn't uphold it's own moral standards.
Light rail is SO worth it. I mentioned last week with the gas crunch and the prices going higher all the time that the station at 485 and S. Blvd was constantly FULL. By the end of the first quarter '08 ridership was already double the year's projection, and exceeded the 2025 projection.
If there were better public transportation in this city, I would never drive again. I'm sure others would agree. I'm po'd that Pineville halted the line where it did, because we could really use an extension to Ballantyne.
So the time to build is NOW before the construction prices go higher!!! And max out the projections. The southern line already doesn't have enough cars.
Looks like the northern leg of the Blue Line is gonna cost about $900 million, thanks in part to Lizard King and the recall folks. My question is, given the success of the southern leg, is the northern leg worth it? How much more are we willing to pay, as construction prices are more likely to rise than fall?
North light rail's price hits $900 million - * Home Page - Charlotte Observer (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/100/story/233087.html - broken link)
Any future lines I hope they model it after other cities instead of the design flaw of the current southern leg.
Yes Lynx is popular but they are having trouble on seperating the 2 car trains to one for more train cars on the track due to it compromises with the rail crossings. Why did they build it on the roads to begin with. CATS is afraid that people cannot drive on perpendicular streets due to the gates would constantly be up and down.
It would be nice if they had an express train but there no way that could work on this line. It would be nice if you could get on at the 485 station and go straight to uptown with no stops.
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