383 replies to this topic

[Shawn&Zae]

The Escapists, on 27 July 2010 - 12:18 PM, said:

I'm confused a little - was the Mayor was commenting about the money available for LYNX Extension *saying CATS needs $40M to continue past the 30% design, but they might ONLY get $3.7M from the city?* Was this a comment regarding redirecting the city's earmarked $14M toward LYNX rather than the Streetcar? And what does that mean for the $40M? Out of luck?

That $3.7M would be from the US Senate, it's still in committee however. That point was brought up at the meeting to point out how hard transit money was going to come by.

Edited by Shawn&Zae, 27 July 2010 - 01:03 PM.

[southslider]

Will it really cost $40 million to just complete the design work on BLE? That's more than what it will cost ($37M) to finish design AND construction of the Streetcar starter segment.

[jednc]

I thought this was an interesting article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about Charlotte's Grant Win...
http://www.ajc.com/n...ion-581041.html

[southslider]

FYI, the last round of community meetings is being held this week and next for the public to see and comment on the preliminary engineering plans for the full 10-mile streetcar route.

Tonight (Sept. 28) at Central United Methodist. Thursday night (Sept. 30) at Johnson C. Smith University. Next Wednesday evening at the Government Center. All meetings run 6-8pm.

Edited by southslider, 28 September 2010 - 04:24 PM.

[The Escapists]

Wonder when we'll start to see movement on the initial line... construction needs to finish within 18 months of decision (July 2010) - so that would be Jan 2012 to complete at the latest.

[southslider]

^July was City Council's decision to accept the grant. The 18-month clock doesn't start ticking until the Feds officially give notice to proceed. And I think that 18-month deadline may just be to start construction, not a deadline to have the project fully built and open for service.

Edited by southslider, 20 October 2010 - 09:46 AM.

[Spartan]

^ That is my understanding as well.

[kermit]

I am encouraged that Charlotte manages to be a good city to showcase new transit technology.

From the non copyrighted press release:

Quote

KINKISHARYO International, L.L.C. announced today that the prototype of its LFX-300, a 100 percent low-floor, dual-powered 'hybrid' streetcar specifically designed for North America, will arrive in the U.S. in mid-December. Following a series of tests, the LFX-300 will be unveiled to the public and industry in Charlotte, North Carolina in January, 2011.

If we had not committed to the legacy trolleys on the streetcar line I would think we could see a partial cantenary streetcar line.

http://www.prnewswir...-111032219.html

[Shawn&Zae]

I hate that we are stuck with the legacy trolleys for our starter streetcar line and with the MTC puttiing the streetcar line on definite hold, we probably won't see this model.

[orulz]

They've really only committed to the legacy vehicles for the first phase of the streetcar that is already funded (CTC to Presbyterian hospital.) Makes sense because they already HAVE the vehicles. For future phases they're definitely going to use modern streetcars. There's not really anywhere in that segment where wire-free operation would be particularly important.

Hybrid streetcars provide benefits even when running under wire. They use less power because they have regenerative braking. However, wireless trains will definitely be important in one, maybe two places. First, I bet the city doesn't want wires spanning Tryon street. That might get in the way of parades. Second, Hawthorne is a pretty low bridge.

Something especially nice about these Kinki Sharyo cars is that they have 100% low floors. The Skoda cars that you see in Portland only have 50% low floors (the middle section is low; the front and back are not.)

[Shawn&Zae]

I get that, but what I'm saying is since the streetcar expansion is put on hold and the MTC and CATS is focusing only on the BLE and North Corridor within the 2030 plan. We will not likely see any new streetcar models besides the legacy one for awhile.

Edited by Shawn&Zae, 30 November 2010 - 09:13 PM.

[southslider]

^Streetcar expansion is only on hold by MTC when it comes to using the County half-cent sales tax. The starter project is funded independent of the County sales tax, for design (City), construction (Federal and City), and operations (City). If an extension to Gateway were to be funded outside the County sales tax, say an Uptown tax and/or another Federal grant, then I can't see how MTC could or would nix it, especially if it would save or replace CATS operating the Gold Rush.

[tozmervo]

I think the CATS move to "nix" the streetcar from the 2030 plan just gives them breathing room and the opportunity to focus on the BLE and Red Line. It's also a clear signal to the City that "you want it, you build it." I think there's actually a very good chance that we'll see more build out sooner than later - there's still strong city support, and the responsibility for getting it built is much more clear cut now.

[dubone]

I was thinking that CATS had for a while disavowed itself of the streetcar line, and had shifted the onus for that to the city of Charlotte. Regardless, if it helps them free the budget to move forward with the BLE, then I am for it.

[The Escapists]

Here's the Media sheet for the Kinkisharyo LFX-300 which will be unveiled to the world in Charlotte this month. It's a great looking streetcar. Aside from the 100% low-floor, the hybrid technology would allow (theoretically if this were to be the streetcar Charlotte ended up with) stored Li-ion batteries to power the car without overhead lines for a aesthetically sensitive or prohibitive streets - namely: no overhead wiring west from the CTC/Arena Lynx bridge through The Square and maybe even as far as Gateway. That sounds good to me.

[Urbanity]

Urban Land Institute proposal for Independence discusses a streetcar that runs down Monroe. There apparently was also mention of a Central Avenue and Sharon Amity line if I understood some of the comments in Mary Newsom's blog piece on the recommendations.

Of course this is nothing more than a a third party's recommendation and may go poof in the wind, but I love the ideas.

[dubone]

While I suspect this will not end up swaying the people in charge to get off their longstanding plans. I do think this is a good idea to extend the Central streetcar by turning it on Sharon Amity and then down Monroe.

It would be nice if they could just get some long term funding in place to extend the Central Ave streetcar line a few miles every few years and go from there.

[southslider]

An incremental approach makes sense for streetcar. For example, just two more stops east of the starter project reaches both the Elizabeth and Plaza-Central areas. But a commitment should be made to build incrementally in ALL directions. West Charlotte has been very patient with the starter grant, understanding the initial route as leveraging recent invesments, but also understandably demanding the next segment must head west. Of course, just three more stops west of the starter project reaches both the Square and Gateway, but doesn't leave Uptown. I imagine that going any farther east with streetcar will be a tough political sell until streetcar finally reaches west of I-77.

I also like how adding another eastern leg down 7th/Monroe would complement the second western leg of Cedar-Morehead-Wilkinson. Note, however, that building ALL directions incrementally would also mean reaching Coliseum via Elizabeth before Eastland, as much as reaching Bryant Park via Wesley Heights before going all the way up Beatties Ford to Rosa Parks. But realisically, the inner segments of all four streetcar lines have the greatest urban redevelopment potential initially over complete build-out of the Rosa Parks-Eastland line.

[Urbanity]

Good News: Charlotte is the first stop of a tour of next generation hybrid Streetcars. They are available for a public viewing on Friday at the 9th St. Lynx /Trolley station

Bad News: Charlotte's 1.5 mile starter streetcar's opening has been pushed back a year (2015) due to delay in delivery of Federal Funding,

[kermit]

thanks for the update on the streetcar construction, can you share a link to the source? (if its online)

(I don't doubt you, I would just like to read more about it)


Perhaps the delay will allow some more cash to magically appear for needed extensions to gateway station / 5 points....

I realize more funding is a long shot but the rate at which Pat Mcrory is out on consulting gigs preaching the virtues of transit and smart growth I think the next gubernatorial election will feature much talk about transit.

Edit: \/ Thanks Urbanity!

Edited by kermit, 20 January 2011 - 08:45 PM.