Charlotte's Light Rail: Lynx Blue Line

[kermit]

8 minutes ago, tarhoosier said:

Brooks brothers means something different in Charlotte and NoDa.

 

In desperate need of an emoji for this:

 

 

(and more solemnly, RIP Scott)

Edited August 25, 2021 by kermit

[atl2clt]

24 minutes ago, kermit said:

I have 2.5 days in. It generally looks like the photo below (taken just now  between 9th and Parkwood) Most seats have one occupant, so it ain’t empty, but I would be surprised to ever see it standing room.  Afternoons have not been significantly different.

Needless to say the Brooks brothers crowd ain’t riding, it does feel like the train has more UNCC riders than pre-pandemic. Parking lots have been empty, Old Concord has had maybe 10 cars in it.

Mask compliance is pretty mediocre, it’s probably about 85%, but those non-mask wearers really stick out.

20 minute frequencies SUCK and CATS is not sticking to the timetable very well (trains seem to have been about 5 minutes late — NEED REAL TIME TRACKING!!!!!!)

I can second this. I take the light rail into the office about twice per week from South End to CTC. I have been pleasantly surprised by occupancy levels. It isn't shoulder to shoulder, but it does still feel lively. I couldn't find a seat on the way home from work yesterday if that counts for anything.  

I will also add that the light rail is an extremely pleasant transit experience. My morning train ride almost always starts my day off on a bright note.

[Madison Parkitect]

8 minutes ago, atl2clt said:

I will also add that the light rail is an extremely pleasant transit experience. My morning train ride almost always starts my day off on a bright note.

Before the pandemic I could ride it from near my house right to the door of my office. Now I'm in a different house and a different office so I'm driving about 20 minutes each way. Less commute time than when I rode the light rail, actually, but I miss riding it so much. Even standing-room only. It just felt so big-city to ride it across 277 in the morning into uptown.

[InTheYear2000]

Echo what everyone has said. It's not empty(Think pre-pandemic Saturday).  I expect a ridership uptick after 9/7. I know the delays for Wells and some others have made the news but I still expect the 9/7 date to materially change the landscape uptown.   

[kermit]

On a train now that I would consider to be COVID crowded. Most seats filled, a couple of standing folks. 

Crowds have steadily increased over the past 7 works days.

[kermit]

Trains are steadily getting more crowded (how about increasing frequency CATS?). The Old Concord station parking lot has 3x the cars it had two weeks ago, but it’s still at 20% of capacity.

[Blue_Devil]

59 minutes ago, kermit said:

Trains are steadily getting more crowded (how about increasing frequency CATS?). The Old Concord station parking lot has 3x the cars it had two weeks ago, but it’s still at 20% of capacity.

Once Wells starts going back into the office (Oct 18 now) I think that train really starts to fill.... 20k people Uptown, plus all the support workers....

[Matthew.Brendan]

My group (Wells IT) has already been told don’t expect to be in the office this year, which suits me just fine. *shrugs* 

[Desert Power]

34 minutes ago, Matthew.Brendan said:

My group (Wells IT) has already been told don’t expect to be in the office this year, which suits me just fine. *shrugs* 

 In another department we don't even have space right now after being boxed up and told we were moving to 2 WFC almost a year ago. Not sure we will ever really go back.

[kermit]

Standing room only on a 2:45pm train into uptown…

[davidclt]

27 minutes ago, kermit said:

Standing room only on a 2:45pm train into uptown…

Was that because it was the first train to come along for the past hour? (glad you made it)

[kermit]

Standing room only again at 6. We need better frequencies CATS!

[KJHburg]

Great news for Southend.

 

[kermit]

Small change in ridership behavior: Pre-COVID most UNCC passengers boarded north of 36th st. Now I am guessing UNCC ridership is up by about 20% over pre COVID times but lots more of these folks board South of uptown. 

[Hushpuppy321]

Alright You Folks that know Southend quite well - What are the Pro's & Con's for the New Blue Line Station Option 1 or Option 2?

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

18 hours ago, Hushpuppy321 said:

Alright You Folks that know Southend quite well - What are the Pro's & Con's for the New Blue Line Station Option 1 or Option 2?

I'm not a SE expert, but I'd choose Option 2.  Atherton Mill and Sycamore will def be more of a destination than the Publix stop (Option 1).  Plus, there's a lot more space/opportunity for the rail trail with Option 2 to create some really cool pedestrian experience(s) fronting the new Portman's tower where sycamore will be and there's that empty lot fronting atherton mill.  Only con I see, is that it's so dagum close to the East/West station.  But that's about it.  Lots of shopping and restaurants at this spot...will be a popular stop for sure.

*Responding by to elro below. The two stops are practically right next to each other. No matter which option they go with, it will be a very short walk to Publix/Atherton from either option. CATs imo is building this for Atherton patrons and easy/safe access to cross over to the sycamore side where there’s also a bunch of destinations ppl go to (pins mech, Krispy Kreme, skip town, common market etc). They don’t want ppl jumping tracks.   Option 1 would provide access to all that residential too though.

Edited September 15, 2021 by CharlotteWkndBuzz

[elrodvt]

If we're trying to serve the poor who can't afford a car then it should be Publix.

[DEnd]

8 hours ago, CharlotteWkndBuzz said:

I'm not a SE expert, but I'd choose Option 2.  Atherton Mill and Sycamore will def be more of a destination than the Publix stop (Option 1). 

If you are going by visitor numbers to each Publix probably beats Atherton and Sycamore.  Grocery Stores generate huge volumes .  That said Atherton  would generate more visibility to more businesses and would be less disruptive to the residents along the line,

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

8 hours ago, DEnd said:

If you are going by visitor numbers to each Publix probably beats Atherton and Sycamore.  Grocery Stores generate huge volumes .  

Possibly, but also probably by car though.  You break that number down to who would travel via light rail and it probably dramatically decreases.  I mentioned n my original post that both options are incredibly close to each other anyways and that it won't really matter (distance wise to either destination).  

I would be fine with either option, however, Option 2 opens the doors for an incredible opportunity for the rail trail on both sides of the station.  Particularly, the side facing Portman's new tower that's anchored by Sycamore at the bottom, along with the other retail facing out towards the rail trail.

[DMann]

Option 1 opens a path across the LYNX line for all the apartments on the west side of the line.  Those tenants will shop at Publix much more often than Atherton.

[InTheYear2000]

19 hours ago, Hushpuppy321 said:

Alright You Folks that know Southend quite well - What are the Pro's & Con's for the New Blue Line Station Option 1 or Option 2?

I know you are looking for a pro/con, but alternatively If I'm at the betting window  I'd place my money on Publix on the chance that they put to use their highly effective government relations team. As a recovering Florida resident; I've seen those folks move entire intersections, change parking guidelines and (most impressively) change county liquor laws on a whim.  With that said, this seems like a town run by commercial devs and brokers so the odds on that bet are probably closely aligned with who has more potential sqft to lease. 

[kermit]

4 hours ago, CharlotteWkndBuzz said:

Possibly, but also probably by car though.  You break that number down to who would travel via light rail and it probably dramatically decreases. 

You are right, but you are discounting the behavior change that would be created by better rail access to a grocery store. I would use a Publix station, instead of the closer E-W station, just so I could pick up things for dinner after getting off the train. The current setup just encourages me to go home first and then drive to the store.

That being said, either option is fine, but a station -at- the grocery store really would eliminate more car trips.

Edited September 15, 2021 by kermit

[nakers2]

I think the new station illustrates why we shouldn’t just give up on transit until there’s a leadership, or just a fundamental change as a whole at CATS. While the system isn’t run as well as it could be right now, the system’s infrastructure is good, solidly built, and can be modified, retrofitted, and added to over time, this being a prime example, and probably the best example (outside of extending the lines like the BLE and Gold Line 2.) Build it now, improve later. It would be nice if we could do both, but I don’t think there’s any city we can go to that got a home run on their first rapid transit system. Charlotte is late to the game, but we need to keep playing ball.

FWIW, I pick option 1. Let’s not forget where we are, Americans are far more willing to walk 100 yards to go drink than to carry groceries. IMO needs to be as close to Publix as possible. Plus this also will open a crossing to residents across the tracks, which is worth more than anything in my opinion. 

[kermit]

^ Well said.

I would also suggest there are some things that the City and CATS got right. We really do have better zoning and land use regulations surrounding stations than most new LRT systems (and some heavy rail systems like MARTA). We also have a massive share of employment concentrated in our CBD (if it comes back) which makes rail much more efficient. Our streetcar also does a much better job of connecting places that -need- connecting than most others of its era.

While our operations practices -really- suck, I hate to say we are  no worse than many comparable systems (Dallas, Norfolk and even Sacramento). That is not meant to suggest that there is no room for improvement. CATS could be a crown jewel, we just need some decent leadership to make it happen.

Edited September 16, 2021 by kermit

[mintscraft56]

Hello. Im from Norfolk, VA. We have a light rail called the tide here and they are desperate for an expansion but Virginia Beach is bullying us around on that. Anyways whats the light rail like in Charlotte? Iv been thinking of visiting but I just wanted down the basics of the city first before I go to explore.