Charlotte Center City Streetcar Network

[SgtCampsalot]

I love this thing. If they ever get their act together with signal preemption it will feel like its moving at warp speed.

That would help a lot.

I feel like a modern-day wuss: When I rode it I had a headache from the noise of the old trolley's wheels, and the cabin's echo-y acoustics from some kids laughing. If Phase 2 isn't funded so we can get the modern streetcars, I'm going to cry. But I should buck up and deal with it for transit's sake!

Edited August 23, 2015 by SgtCampsalot

[birky]

@RBerkywcnc

CATS says streetcar ridership is running 67 percent above expectations.

[tozmervo]

Was there ever a ridership estimate produced? I don't think I ever saw one. I'm not sure what we're 67% above. 

 

[Nolan]

It should even be better now since CPCC fall semester started. 

[Niner National]

It seems pretty full whenever I see it, even in evening hours. I expected it to be mostly empty after the 9-5 crowd went home, but it hasn't been.

 

I'm sure ridership will slowly dwindle as people stop riding it just for the novelty, but I'm surprised with how it is has gone so far.

[tozmervo]

Still can't find any raw numbers on ridership, but for reference the Gold Rush averages around 2,000 riders per weekday, or around 44,000/month. That number was for the full length of the gold rush run from JC Smith to Novant. 

[kermit]

^I thought I heard the number 1,000 at some point?

if 1,670 is the number then the Gold Line is carrying 1113 riders per mile per day

If the Blue Line ridership is 15,800 (per wiki -- feels low to me) then it carries 1,645 riders per mile

Not bad for the "streetcar to nowhere*"

* if by 'nowhere' you mean connecting the states largest business district to the states largest college to the states 9th largest hospital.

Edited August 25, 2015 by kermit

[jednc]

Was there ever a ridership estimate produced? I don't think I ever saw one. I'm not sure what we're 67% above. 

 

On opening day I heard several CATS officials who were riding the Trolley say 1,100 per day was the target.

[ajfunder]

1,100 is what I heard as well.

[tozmervo]

Published: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article32342751.html

They're seeing average weekday ridership of 1,507. Sounds like the August and July numbers are looking fairly similar.

Edited August 25, 2015 by tozmervo

[birky]

Excuse me, but I was told by several "important people" in the Charlotte Observer comments section that the streetcar was a huge boondoggle.

[kermit]

^ Don't get me wrong, I am a huge streetcar believer. But $37 million to basically replace half the existing GoldRush might feel a little boondogglly to someone who only looks at the short term. That said, the revival of the (new and improved) Grubb project on Elizabeth along with the promise of Phase II into the west side (giving us a rudimentary E-W rail route) makes the starter segment well worth the $12 million capital expense to the city.

If Phase II brings sub-10 minute frequencies along with signal preemption we will actually have a pretty useful addition to our transit system.

Edited August 25, 2015 by kermit

[navigator319]

From the Observer....   The new streetcar averaged 1,507 passenger weekday trips in July, exceeding CATS estimates of 1,100 and 900 to the federal government. August seems to be on the same track (no pun intended) according to the transit system.

[Deleted.]

Rode the streetcar again today, the trolley went about 25-27mph and cross inter sections on yellow lights! Has anyone else noticed this? 

EDIT- Sorry not "trolley", streetcar

Edited September 2, 2015 by Piedmont767

[Dcarnys]

Rode the streetcar again today, the trolley went about 25-27mph and cross inter sections on yellow lights! Has anyone else noticed this? 

EDIT- Sorry not "trolley", streetcar

No it has been a lot speedier since the opening.

[15895]

So I always been a cheerleader of the Foxx Trot and in satisfied with its debut and reception this far.

 

How does everyone else feel about the streetcar? Better than you guys expected? Worse? 

[SgtCampsalot]

I honestly think it's premature to have an opinion on it. I love it, but Phase 1 exists in its current form because incremental steps are necessary to get the entire line built. Once Phase 2 is funded and built, it will connect to JSU, and get over the Hawthorne Ave bridge over Independence, which is expensive, and the trolley will be replaced with the modern streetcars.

Right now, I can't help but feel meh, since the trolley is unpleasant to ride, and I keep walking its entire length nearly as fast as it runs it. Also 50% of the time I wait for it, I wait longer than the entire walk would've been. I don't blame anyone for it: it's a very old trolley, and they have limited resources. But once Phase 2 is done it will be judge-able. And whenever Phase 3 is built, it will be a city-wide asset.

Edited September 3, 2015 by SgtCampsalot

[Matthew.Brendan]

Will the new cars be any quieter and/or smoother than the current ones?

[Synopsis101]

I kind of like the sound the streetcar makes. Makes the city feel bigger.

[jednc]

I honestly think it's premature to have an opinion on it. I love it, but Phase 1 exists in its current form because incremental steps are necessary to get the entire line built. Once Phase 2 is funded and built, it will connect to JSU, and get over the Hawthorne Ave bridge over Independence, which is expensive, and the trolley will be replaced with the modern streetcars.

Right now, I can't help but feel meh, since the trolley is unpleasant to ride, and I keep walking its entire length nearly as fast as it runs it. Also 50% of the time I wait for it, I wait longer than the entire walk would've been. I don't blame anyone for it: it's a very old trolley, and they have limited resources. But once Phase 2 is done it will be judge-able. And whenever Phase 3 is built, it will be a city-wide asset.

I'm pretty sure the streetcar you are talking about is about 10-12 years old. It's a replica of Charlotte's older streetcars, but not that old itself. I don't mind the noise or the roughness of the ride at all. I think it adds to the experience to be honest. I hope they find a use for these cars once the new streetcars are in use on the Gold Line.

[SgtCampsalot]

Ah i didnt know that.

The west side trolley tracks will be excellent when they get up and running. That trolley will be a pioneering force for every abandoned stretch of tracks in the region. They should give it a cartoon character style name.

[jednc]

Ah i didnt know that.

The west side trolley tracks will be excellent when they get up and running. That trolley will be a pioneering force for every abandoned stretch of tracks in the region. They should give it a cartoon character style name.

i really hope you are right about that!

[SgtCampsalot]

Charlie the Trolley!

 

[kermit]

Just a calendar reminder. The Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for Phase 2 of the Gold Line should be signed by the Federal Transit Administration and the city sometime in the next month. 

Assuming that happens as planned, construction on Phase 2 should begin next May.

 

 

[Third Strike]

Once Phase 2 is completed, what happens to the Gomaco Trolley? Will the city still use them for the Gold Line?