Charlotte Gateway Station and Railroad Improvements

[gsutton5]

13 hours ago, JeanClt said:

http://www.capstonedevco.com/gateway-station







I wonder how this will turn out and how close it will look to these. Phase 1 should be wrapping up next year.

I’m afraid I just keep up with the gateway station / silver line. 
 

is this actually happening? I know that phase of of the station is wrapping up, so I’d assume yes. However, from other discussions, it sounds as though the silver line is a completely tossup.

 

but if the silver line might not happen… how does the gateway station exist? Am I missing something?

[tozmervo]

1 minute ago, gsutton5 said:

I’m afraid I just keep up with the gateway station / silver line. 
 

is this actually happening? I know that phase of of the station is wrapping up, so I’d assume yes. However, from other discussions, it sounds as though the silver line is a completely tossup.

 

but if the silver line might not happen… how does the gateway station exist? Am I missing something?

Gateway Station's first priority is replacing the POS amtrak station on North Tryon. It is also intended to relieve some of the bus route crowding at CTC. Any future commuter rail and other rapid transit connections is being planned on/hoped for, but is not the main driver.

[Reverie39]

Does Phase 1 completion next year mean that Amtrak will begin operating out of Gateway then? 

[B Randy]

3 minutes ago, Reverie39 said:

Does Phase 1 completion next year mean that Amtrak will begin operating out of Gateway then? 

My understanding is Amtrak will come when Gateway Station is completed.  Which has to be a couple of years out based on those renderings.

I think the concept is that Silver Line will co-mingle w/ a rail trail at Gateway (that trail rendering concept above).  But if Silver Line bypasses Gateway for some nearsighted agenda, that's likely not possible.  

Also interesting today is that Tepper's practice facility was just announced along the Silver Line route off of Monroe .  Seems like connecting that to Gateway and the Stadium beyond would be a good idea? 

Of course...if the wackiness of the recent interlining studies/ agendas are any indication, nobody will be thinking about big picture city planning or growth when they make the ultimate decision re: routing... 

[kermit]

1 hour ago, Reverie39 said:

Does Phase 1 completion next year mean that Amtrak will begin operating out of Gateway then? 

Phase 1 was just tracks, signals and platform -- completing Phase 1 next year means the project was over two years late (IIRC). Amtrak service will need to wait for a station building which is not started until Phase 2. There was some brief talk about a temporary station building but that vanished about two years ago.

Gateway is not really dependent on the Silver Line, but it will be kinda dumb to have it only connected by the Gold Line.

Edited August 17, 2022 by kermit

[JeanClt]

There was talk of an interim station but now they have been saying service won’t start until 2025 which is likely when the station will be completed which takes interim out of the equation.

[Hushpuppy321]

And in the meantime - RUSBUS is active and a high-rise Apartment Tower (435’) beginning construction this year….  So jealous (lol) 

[JeanClt]

And in the meantime - RUSBUS is active and a high-rise Apartment Tower (435’) beginning construction this year….  So jealous (lol) 

Patienceeee. Soon enough I hope we see something truly spectacular here in the next few years! Don’t count CGS out yet.

[Reverie39]

I grew up in the Triangle and think RUSBUS is awesome, and the growth of downtown Raleigh is also awesome. But I'll also say there are plenty of developments in Charlotte that make people over there jealous too... namely the light rail. Grass is always greener!

[cowboy_wilhelm]

The following projects have been delayed:

• The wye connection has been delayed from October to February.
• The second platform at Kannapolis has been delayed from October to March.
• The second platform at Salisbury has been delayed until January 2024.

[RANYC]

When will work begin on the train station and when is it expected to complete?

When will work begin on adjacent uses like retail and residential, next to the train station (office likely dead for quite some time)?  For whatever it's worth, Charlotte's Gateway station is listed in the "under development" section of Capstone Development's website.

Edited August 24, 2022 by RANYC

[KJHburg]

Just saw on WCNC news that Amtrak will offer a special train from Raleigh on Panthers game day and it said it was stopping in Uptown.  Is that true or do they mean the current Amtrak station that is not uptown?  Said it will arrive around 930 am on game day.  

https://abc11.com/carolina-panthers-train-to-games-amtrak-charlotte/12161725/

Update I guess it is the regular amtrak station which means people will still need to get to the stadium by some other means

 

Edited August 24, 2022 by KJHburg

[kermit]

37 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

Just saw on WCNC news that Amtrak will offer a special train from Raleigh on Panthers game day and it said it was stopping in Uptown.  Is that true or do they mean the current Amtrak station that is not uptown?  Said it will arrive around 930 am on game day.  

https://abc11.com/carolina-panthers-train-to-games-amtrak-charlotte/12161725/

Update I guess it is the regular amtrak station which means people will still need to get to the stadium by some other means

 

the arrival time suggests its the regular N Tryon station.

Wouda been cool though!

[I don't believe there is any pedestrian route from the Gateway platform down to the street yet]

Edited August 24, 2022 by kermit

[tarhoosier]

I remember (does anyone else) that in 1996, the first season of the Panthers here in the new stadium, CATS announced special buses running from several outer locations direct to the stadium area. Park at shopping mall areas, for example, on Sunday morning and let them take you there for much less than the cost of parking. Result: the buses were swamped with riders. Far more riders waiting for not enough buses and eventually those left stranded realized no further buses would arrive. That was the only time CATS tried that experiment.

[CLT2014]

40 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

Just saw on WCNC news that Amtrak will offer a special train from Raleigh on Panthers game day and it said it was stopping in Uptown.  Is that true or do they mean the current Amtrak station that is not uptown?  Said it will arrive around 930 am on game day.  

https://abc11.com/carolina-panthers-train-to-games-amtrak-charlotte/12161725/

Update I guess it is the regular amtrak station which means people will still need to get to the stadium by some other means

They could take the #21 or #11 bus that runs every 30 minutes on Sunday and will get them Uptown! 

You just have to run across 4 lanes of fast traffic without a cross walk to stand on a little concrete pad while you wait.

Edited August 24, 2022 by CLT2014

[KJHburg]

I just thought maybe they could make an exception and stop uptown for this one train back and forth.   To some in the media business maybe the current Amtrak station is uptown but we all know it is not. 

Maybe a special CATS bus directly to the stadium or close by??  wouldn't that be great?  

Edited August 24, 2022 by KJHburg

[Matthew.Brendan]

10 minutes ago, CLT2014 said:

They could take the #21 or #11 bus that runs every 30 minutes on Sunday and will get them Uptown! 

You just have to run across 4 lanes of fast traffic without a cross walk to stand on a little concrete pad while you wait.

dang that's a FANCY bus stop. the little patch of concrete is adorable. no budget left for a bench though I guess.

[tarhoosier]

I have seen CATS buses waiting at the Amtrak station itself for arrivals at train arrival times. I cannot say what bus route it was but not for special events, just the normal weekaday connection. Too lazy to check CATS site for this.

[CLT2014]

1 hour ago, tarhoosier said:

I have seen CATS buses waiting at the Amtrak station itself for arrivals at train arrival times. I cannot say what bus route it was but not for special events, just the normal weekaday connection. Too lazy to check CATS site for this.

The 11 does stop at the station for regular train service. TBD if CATS will do a special bus for this special Amtrak train.

[Reverie39]

19 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Just saw on WCNC news that Amtrak will offer a special train from Raleigh on Panthers game day and it said it was stopping in Uptown.  Is that true or do they mean the current Amtrak station that is not uptown?  Said it will arrive around 930 am on game day.  

https://abc11.com/carolina-panthers-train-to-games-amtrak-charlotte/12161725/

Update I guess it is the regular amtrak station which means people will still need to get to the stadium by some other means

 

This will be so great once Gateway is completed. As I said earlier on this page I grew up in the Triangle and am a big Panthers fan (as are most of my friends). I am certain people in the region would love to take this train to see games without dealing with traffic and allow themselves to drink a little more too. Especially once Raleigh Union Station is connected to the commuter rail that is under development there.

[CarolinaDaydreamin]

They should do a charter bus from the station like Brightline does from Miami Central to Marlins games, Ft Lauderdale for Dolphins games and West Palm Beach for concerts. 

And have a premium section with free booze.

Edited August 26, 2022 by CarolinaDaydreamin

[Third Strike]

Someone on Reddit has noted that a new track was built next to the ACWR in NoDa. Don’t think it’s the realignment project, as this track is right next to the existing tracks. Any idea what they are for? This is next to the crossing on 36th Street. 

[kermit]

16 minutes ago, Third Strike said:

Someone on Reddit has noted that a new track was built next to the ACWR in NoDa. Don’t think it’s the realignment project, as this track is right next to the existing tracks. Any idea what they are for? This is next to the crossing on 36th Street. 

I have not seen the 36th street crossing but I saw crews replacing rails on the ACWR spur out of Charlotte yard from the Blue Line last week (maybe yesterday?). I am 99% sure there is not a second track (no grading work as been done as visible from the Blue Line)  but the new/old rails staged beside the existing track might make it appear like it is a second track.

This track replacement is sad news. The ACWR NoDa bypass (new tracks connecting the ACWR to the NCRR along Sugar Creek to replace the tracks which run through the middle of NoDa) has been on the books for a long while, I guess they have given up on it. Its a shame because I believe the ACWR bypass is necessary to build the passenger bypass tracks around the Charlotte yard to Gateway.

 

Edited August 30, 2022 by kermit

[JHart]

1 hour ago, kermit said:

I have not seen the 36th street crossing but I saw crews replacing rails on the ACWR spur out of Charlotte yard from the Blue Line last week (maybe yesterday?). I am 99% sure there is not a second track (no grading work as been done as visible from the Blue Line)  but the new/old rails staged beside the existing track might make it appear like it is a second track.

This track replacement is sad news. The ACWR NoDa bypass (new tracks connecting the ACWR to the NCRR along Sugar Creek to replace the tracks which run through the middle of NoDa) has been on the books for a long while, I guess they have given up on it. Its a shame because I believe the ACWR bypass is necessary to build the passenger bypass tracks around the Charlotte yard to Gateway.

 

[kermit]

^ I am betting they are going to remove the existing tracks and drag the new tracks into place (this minimizes road closure time). While it looks like they might have done some grading beneath the new tracks,. nothing appears to have been cleared on the far side of 36th.

Absolutely no reason for two tracks anywhere on the ACWR, especially on a portion which is planned to be completely removed at some point.

Edited August 30, 2022 by kermit