Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If they do a Camden/Columbia line, I would build a station in Elgin with a Park 'n Ride lot. Put a station in Pontiac, maybe in the Village at Sandhill near the Home Depot. Another station, maybe near Lionsgate Drive and Two Notch.
Have a station near Columbia Place and build a connector above Two Notch for people to go across and use the mall lot as a huge Park 'n Ride. Then a station near Gary or Standish, in that neighborhood area. Ideally, it would be nice to "twin the line", if money becomes available.
If you look at the proposal lines they do have the Village, Dentsville in the proposal. I found those today looking at the Walk bike Columbia thing.
The other reason why the Camden Columbia line makes more sense is because there is already existing Passenger rail service in the form of Amtrak along that line so CSX (I believe) wont flip out over service as much as Norfolk Southern would on the Newberry route which is entirely freight.... There is also an existing station in Camden which has land to add parking if needed. Its also along route 1 though far from I-20. It could be an interim station until a new commuter oriented one is built.
As for the Intermodal.. Unless a switch is built up Farrow Road near Parklane.. Amtrak trains cannot access the Harden Street location. This is where CSX tracks fly over(or under) Norfolk Southern ..who is the one that owns the Harden Street Tracks. I have always liked Hampton and Wayne Streets near the War Memorial for an Intermodal.. Its downtown, near 126 and has room for expansion/joint facility with other uses as a nice infill development. A facility could be built adjacent to the tracks and/or over the tracks with frontage along Hampton Street. Again, if its mixed use.. ground floor for transit.. upper floors could be the COMET Offices or even Richland County Offices since they have a court facility over on Huger...Stairs would carry you down to a nice double track below grade. that track provides access to Newberry, Camden, Sumter, Orangburg and beyond and thus could support a statewide system in addition to a national rail network
I feel if it's gonna be there then how much room is gonna be needed to build possible extra tracks. I feel if it was in a flat area like on Harden Street there's possible room for expansion.
Something similar like the Union Station in Dallas TX
I feel if it's gonna be there then how much room is gonna be needed to build possible extra tracks. I feel if it was in a flat area like on Harden Street there's possible room for expansion.
Something similar like the Union Station in Dallas TX
The idea would be to use the air rights over the tracks to connect both sides of the corridor in addition to serving as a transit facility/offices/retail. Below is a good example from Columbus OH that is over a highway..which could be used on both Gervais and Hampton Street Bridges. In both cases it would be a good idea to connect both sides of the tracks together with a continuous pedestrian oriented environment
The idea would be to use the air rights over the tracks to connect both sides of the corridor in addition to serving as a transit facility/offices/retail. Below is a good example from Columbus OH that is over a highway..which could be used on both Gervais and Hampton Street Bridges. In both cases it would be a good idea to connect both sides of the tracks together with a continuous pedestrian oriented environment
Ok I'll admit that's actually really cool looking. The one on NC. I can kinda see that becoming a thing if they put it down in the Vista area where you're talking about.
If they add an extra track down the middle of the 2 tracks it would be like a bypass track for Freight and Multiple trains pulling in at once.
Ok I'll admit that's actually really cool looking. The one on NC. I can kinda see that becoming a thing if they put it down in the Vista area where you're talking about.
If they add an extra track down the middle of the 2 tracks it would be like a bypass track for Freight and Multiple trains pulling in at once.
Amtrak service right now to Columbia Sux.. I have taken the train out of Columbia several times. It runs twice a day and departs arrives between 4am and 2am respectively. I always get a roomette which is more costly than a seat.. but the best way to travel. There is usually between 30 to 40 people getting on each way though I believe that Florence and Charleston have more ridership.
At any rate.. I would love to see Columbia pursue a connection with Charlotte as part of the NCDOT run Piedmont.. even if its just a pilot for a year or two in partnership with SCDOT. At that rate they could atleast get a sense for the demand/interest in rail travel by residents and potential passengers. The trackwork from my understanding is not ideal because its have a lot of curves and grade crossings.. so the average speed was like 55mph to 65 mph.. which is ok for freight but terrible for passengers service. The other challenge with this is what I mentioned in my previous post..
To align the existing Amtrak Station on the Charlotte Axis.. a switch has to be built here (see link below)...the overhead track runs from Harden Street up Farrow Rd to Charlotte.. the lower track runs by the existing Amtrak Station and out Two Notch to Camden...The City has been pursuing funding for this switch (interlocking) for years in order to close the Harden Street track that snarls traffic on the eastern edge of the City and to send all trains coming in from the North and Northeast into the Corridor downtown. Though NS shares the "corridor" downtown with CSX. they each have their own track which is why there are two in it. They would have to share a single track from Farrow Road to the Corridor(Downtown).. which makes both uncomfortable not to mention increase the number of trains running through Eau Claire and Elmwood Park. The RRs have been lukewarm on sharing and Im not sure that the neighborhoods next to the existing track would be supportive of doubling or potentially tripling the number of trains running through even though it may benefit the motoring public in the City...
The Greenway will cross from the convergence of the saluda and broad next to the 126 bridge to the large triangular shaped island. There will be a trail loop around the island with picnic and hiking space. Then it will cross to the trail on the canal near the water treatment plant. If you go to Richland County Public Library, on the second floor is a poster of the proposed plans including the stretch up saluda river. There's also the master plan for Southeast Park, the three Rivers Greenway overall and for the palmetto trail. Also there are sticky notes to make recommendations.
20 to 30 trains a day go through downtown Columbia???? WOW we need some bridges ASAP. We are the capitol of SC not some crossroad town.. where a train can cut a town in half an sit there for hours......
Seems like the Mayor is tired of being Railroaded by trains downtown.. That is one thing I don't like about living in Columbia .. Having to listen to the traffic report and hear commentary on what time the trains are going to block XYZ streets during rush hour.. Apparently there was an hour long blockage recently that the Mayor must of got caught in.. cause he seems mad....
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Choo Choo
