Charlotte's Light Rail: Lynx Blue Line

[dubone]

Why not let the people finish their route if they're going to be paying 50 bucks? It seems a bit of adding insult to injury.

Causing them to miss their stop, that is just the breaks.

[monsoon]

^Because the 50 bucks is the fine for breaking the law. I am assuming that once put off the train, they can buy a ticket so they can get back on and ride legally like everyone else.

[New Name]

Day Two: I saw the inspector give a man a citation today. He bought a one-way ticket and thought it was good in both directions. It took the inspector several minutes to complete the citation, so the guy actually missed his stop at Tyvola and had to take a northbound train back. I asked the inspector how many citations he had given out today and he answered "more than 1, less than 100".

I thought a ticket was valid for 90 minutes from purchase - no matter the direction. Was the individual over the 90 minutes? Can anyone confirm this?

[uptownliving]

The ticket is valid for 90 minutes after purchase only if you go in the same direction. On the ticket itself it says "One- Way". If you switch directions then you need to purchase another ticket.

[Justadude]

^ I hadn't realized this, and I don't like it. I've never been on a public transit system where you had to buy a second ticket if you accidentally missed your stop and had to go back.

[Neo]

^ I hadn't realized this, and I don't like it. I've never been on a public transit system where you had to buy a second ticket if you accidentally missed your stop and had to go back.

Agreed. When I lived in Chicago (which is obviously setup differently than ours...with turnstyles) it wasn't a second thought if you missed your stop and needed to go back in the other direction. I do think that CATS should excuse anyone if they have a ticket within the 90 minutes of the initial purchase, regardless of the direction they're going in. Perhaps even make that policy 45 minutes to prevent anyone from just getting off, picking up some lunch, and hopping back on. I'm not sure if that's the best policy, but punishing someone for missing their stop doesn't seem right to me.

[rooster8]

With an open system like this one, there's probably no other way to enforce it. I think regular riders will get a handle on it, but I worry about tourists and people that will only use it only a few times. I'm not trying to absolve people of their responsibility of knowing the rules, but I'd hate for a tourist's impression of Charlotte to be based on a $50 ticket.

[monsoon]

I had suggested earlier that CATS ought to do away with the 1 way ticket and just sell a 3 hour or 6 hour pass for the same amount of money. It would solve all these problems.

[Andyc545]

I rode uptown for a quick trip and rode back on the same ticket about a week or two ago. Ironically enough there was a ticket enforcer on that train and he did check my ticket. He didn't say anything about it and it clearly said "Scaleybark" when we were at the CTC Station. I was under the impression it was 90 minutes, myself, so this could be a potential problem that may need to be worked out.

[uptownliving]

Personally I think they should make the entire system fare free. Then you don't have to fool with the ticket machines, or fare inspectors...or armored cars to transport all the money to the bank etc. etc.

I don't think it is realistic for them to go fare free...it would cut $15M out of CATS budget and I don't see how they could make that money up.

Maybe what they could do is simplify their fare system like Houston did and make all rides $1. Reducing the fare to $1 would mean a $3M decrease in fares collected...however if they got just 10,000 more people a day to ride the system that would more than make up for the fare decrease.

Something else I think they should look at is making the system fare free during July and August when ozone air pollution becomes a problem around here. If the transit system is free it is a no brainer that more people will ride it.

[mshook]

Unfortunately, the free fare idea would only encourage people to ride who had no destination....people up to no good. At least with this it gives the police "something" to kick them off the train for...

[uptownliving]

Just noticed a $500K building permit was issued to repair/replace the fabric roof at the Lynx Arena Station. Anyone know anything about this? I havn't seen any contract changes come across for this so I assume it is a warranty repair. Maybe the original roof was defective?

[Andyc545]

Just noticed a $500K building permit was issued to repair/replace the fabric roof at the Lynx Arena Station. Anyone know anything about this? I havn't seen any contract changes come across for this so I assume it is a warranty repair. Maybe the original roof was defective?

About time somethings done with it. 1) I noticed a few weeks ago that the blue lights weren't lighting up; 2) it looks as if there is some kind of adhesive around the actual clear form. It's such a wonderful concept roof, and the material is what is being used in Bejing for the Olympics, so I'd hope they can get it up to standards. Not sure w hat the permit is for, tho.

[Raintree21]

Noticed today that the ticket machines said credit cards to be accepted 1st Quarter 2008 so hopefully it will be very soon.

I had my ticket checked both ways today. Once by CMPD and once by a CATS worker. I wonder if they ran out of uniforms? When I first rode the LRT, the farechecker I saw had a crisp uniform but the two CATS workers I saw today were wearing business casual with a neon green traffic vest.

Edited February 7, 2008 by Raintree21

[monsoon]

^Those ticket machines have said that since day 1.

[Raintree21]

It's been awhile since I've been on the LRT but I was implying that hopefully our rides will be easier with the additon of card readers in less than 2 months if the sign was correct.

[Spartan]

From the latest Council-Manager memo:

- Two software releases designed to reduce system errors and add functionality (e.g. round trip fare) are scheduled for release within the next two weeks.

- City Council will be asked at its meeting on February 11 to authorize the City Manager to exercise the contract option that allows for the purchase of up to an additional 10 TVMs.

[dubone]

While I understand that part of the problems are the lines and the fact that stations don't have enough machines, I'd hate us to actually buy more of what has been a pretty bad product.

I'm glad everyone is still giving CATS a hard time so they fix the issues, but I am confident that many of the problems will go away this year.

More products, faster speeds, accepting cards and improving information and enforcement will all go a long way.

I also agree with some fare free times or zones and doing it during ozone days or months would be a great idea. Or at least reducing the price to a buck round trip or something.

[mshook]

Do we expect to get "value cards" or "speed passes"? A physical card that we can charge? It would be faster than a credit card but use the same technology...

[Spartan]

I recall that in about 4 or 5 years the TVMs on the busses will be due for replacement, and then CATS will look into cards.

[MZT]

You all are just providing more and more reasons to get the monthly pass...

The trains are already getting so crowded at rush hour, that people will let a train pass by in the hope of catching the next one being less full.

Today I was at 3rd street, wanting to go south and back home. I deliberately took the northbound train up one stop to CTC, just so that I could catch the southbound train there, and get a seat.

Edited February 8, 2008 by MZT

[RiverwoodCLT]

Sound like the may need more cars soon. They may made a mistake by making the stations for a up to a double train. They may need to run 3 trains at a time. Glade to hear there are full trains to prove to the people who said no one would ride the train.

Edited February 8, 2008 by RiverwoodCLT

[Raintree21]

It's been said that the stations were shortened due to cost constraints so it would make it impossible for longer trains to use the stations. Which stations are shortened? Seems like most of them could easily handle a 4 car train.

[tozmervo]

They still have the option to run every five minutes and/or buy more cars so they can run ALL double trains at rush hour. There's still a ways to go before needing three car trains, but yes, they should at least excercise their option to buy those additional cars.

[Andyc545]

Sound like the may need more cars soon. They may made a mistake by making the stations for a up to a double train. They may need to run 3 trains at a time. Glade to hear there are full trains to prove to the people who said no one would ride the train.

This is a typical story during rush hour. I have found myself into this situation, especially after games at the arena. It's a good thing, though, that's for sure, but yes- they do need to time trains better to work with events and rush hours. Also they should really consider running more double trains during these times, as I've seen them a bit slack on this recently. I don't think 3 car trains is the solution, it's much more a timing situtation as well as being consistant and working with the peak times, even though they change on a day to day basis. CATs needs to keep up with what events are going on in uptown, and when.