Charlotte's Light Rail: Lynx Blue Line

[kermit]

Photos at the observer suggest that a pantograph came off a train just South of Carson station. Bustitution from Scalybark is in effect.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/19/4050453/lynx-running-shuttle-buses-into.html

[MilZ]

^ thanks, I was wondering why the train was parked at the scaleybark station this am.

[tozmervo]

The CIP package has been passed by the city council, so the BLE Infrastructure improvement projects have a funding path (in addition to several other projects). The funding will come from a combination of property tax increase and bond packages that will be up for vote in 2014 and beyond.

[dubone]

That is a relief.  The SCIP program around the South Blvd corridor was significant in changing the perception of the area as well as the usability for bikes and pedestrians setting the stage for all of the redevelopment that has occurred.

 

I'm sure just the like south corridor, most of the development initially will be near downtown (NoDa and [Optimist Park]) but having the rebuilt N Tryon Street and having Little Sugar Creek Greenway connected to Toby Creek Greenway at UNCC will also support the resurgence of bicycling and active lifestyles for newly increased density.  

[tozmervo]

The BLE construction schedule is posted. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/planning/BLE/projectfacts/Documents/2012%200723%20-%20BL45%20Construction%20Summary.pdf

 

Looks like utility relocation will continue through 2013. Roadwork and Parking deck site work is slated for 2014, as well as vehicle shed upfiting and other behind the scenes stuff. Track and catenary work looks to begin in mid-2015.

[cha]

Stumbled upon this blog http://nakedcityblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/getting-creative-with-blue-line.html

 

 I like how they are planning on applying art even to the bridges.

[HopHead]

Don't know where this is necessarily, but per this tweet WBTV reporter building demos are taking place for the Light Rail extension...

 

https://twitter.com/ColeenHarryWBTV/status/346676050312458240/photo/1

[Niner National]

Don't know where this is necessarily, but per this tweet WBTV reporter building demos are taking place for the Light Rail extension...

 

https://twitter.com/ColeenHarryWBTV/status/346676050312458240/photo/1

I believe demolition was supposed to take place where the parking deck by the university will be.

[dubone]

It is exciting to see progress for this line even before construction work begins in earnest.

 

http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/planning/BLE/projectfacts/Documents/2012%200723%20-%20BL45%20Construction%20Summary.pdf

 

Here is the project plan, but it is still hard to tell where the demo is actually occuring.  Most of the buildings being torn down will be for park and ride lots or in the section where it runs in the Tryon median. 

 

 

I'm sure the demolition is part of the real estate acquisition process:

http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/planning/BLE/Pages/BLEAlignmentMaps.aspx

[Urbanity]

As of Sunday the building that housed Nona's (along with a few other businesses) was completely gone.  The next one to go is the Honeybaked Ham Company. 

[dubone]

From a look through the real estate maps, it seems that there really are not a lot of buildings being torn down other than for the park and ride/parking decks.  I think the only buildings torn down otherwise are near the crossing onto Tryon near Old Concord, and a few buildings near the Tom Hunter intersection that are too close to  Tryon to remain after they remake it.   Mostly, they will simply be taking land and some parking. 

As of Sunday the building that housed Nona's (along with a few other businesses) was completely gone.  The next one to go is the Honeybaked Ham Company. 

 

That image does not appear to be one of those retail locations, but possibly so.   Regardless, it is a great early signal of progress.

[New Name]

I attended some of the community meetings and they touched on this. If I remember correctly, the buildings being torn down are just Nona/Panda Express corner, and then a self storage unit place where the tracks will be entering Tryon for the first time.

 

EDIT: Oh yeah... and one of the strip clubs (can't remember which one) - kind of funny to think that people will eventually be waiting on a station platform where so many singles found such a creative use!!

Edited June 17, 2013 by The Escapists

[dubone]

Well, they're also obviously tearing down industrial warehouses are Sugar Creek and Old Concord station park and rides.  Then the gas station at Tom Hunter will go, too.

 

I'm sure there are other minor buildings, but certainly not a significant number, and literally nothing to mourn.

[Urbanity]

Talked with my building management yesterday (Ashford Green in U-CITY) and they expect the city to start doing some work on the property they are taking from the complex (where the trains will turn onto campus) as early as this fall.

[kermit]

demolition was underway today of the buildings between Old Concord and Tryon for ROW.

 

EDIT: NM, I just checked the construction drawings, the demo appears to be unrelated to the BLE.

 

http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/planning/BLE/Pages/BLEAlignmentMaps.aspx

Edited July 8, 2013 by kermit

[Urbanity]

BTW - I'm hearing that there was apparently some event on July 8th celebrating the opening of construction on the BLE at the Night Street Station.   

 

Has anyone else heard about this?  

[tozmervo]

There's a public meeting on the 18th to talk about pending work, but I haven't heard anything about a ceremony/celebration.

 

Edit: and less than 5 minutes later, this arrives in my inbox: 

 

Edited July 12, 2013 by tozmervo

[Urbanity]

^Maybe it was 18th and not 8th!  

 

Coolio about the groundbreaking!!!     It's finally here!

[HopHead]

Funny how things play out... Remember when McCrory was threatening to withhold future state money towards the BLE just a short time ago? Looks like he'll be on hand for Thursday's ground breaking of the light rail extension. Glad to finally see this start up!

 

http://obsdailyviews.blogspot.com/2013/07/six-months-after-threat-mccrory.html

[ah59396]

Annnndddddddddd we are off!

 

 

[Urbanity]

Just found an interesting tidbit on the web:

 

FTA to review UNC Charlotte’s request to name the BLE the Green Line and provide a response

 

Source: Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)

FTA Quarterly Review Meeting

9 a.m. – Noon

July 19, 2013

 

Page 2

 

What strikes me as odd is the specification of "BLE".  Are they seriously considering changing the line name/color once it leaves 7th street to stops north?!

 

They can't be serious.   

[tozmervo]

strikes me as CATS saying, "go ahead and ask" to UNCC. they can let the FTA be the bad guys then.

[ah59396]

I suppose if they "terminated" the line at CTC it could work, because you could argue we will have 4 lines running from CTC (Blue Line south, Green Line north, then street care east and west).  Certainly not at 7th street though.

[jednc]

Funny how things play out... Remember when McCrory was threatening to withhold future state money towards the BLE just a short time ago? Looks like he'll be on hand for Thursday's ground breaking of the light rail extension. Glad to finally see this start up!

 

http://obsdailyviews.blogspot.com/2013/07/six-months-after-threat-mccrory.html

McCrory never threatened to withhold funding. That wouldn't be in his power to do anyway. He told Foxx there was a very real chance that the council's actions may result in the Legislature withholding funds. It wasn't a threat...I think it was a warning to be careful.

[ajfunder]

The memo he sent was poorly worded and sounded like a threat, but I do believe now it was more of a warning then a threat.