Streetcar ext., renamed CityLynx Gold Line, might get built without property tax increase (Charlotte: 2013, costs)
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The new city manager proposed that the line could happen without the need for a property tax increase. Half of the funding will come from applying for federal grants, the other half would come from leftover money left unused in previous Capital Improvement Plans. The line was also re-branded, so it would fit more properly with the rest of the Lynx Rapid Transit system. They also talked about a potential spur to the airport.
The proposal is going to the MTC, and if approved, the city council will vote on it on May 28th.
Here's a map of the second phase of the streetcar line (grey):
It should be noted that the line would connect all higher-ed institutes together (CPCC, Johnson & Wales, Johnson C. Smith, UNCC Uptown campus), along with the Blue Line and future Gateway Station.
I honestly don't understand why an east-west light rail line isn't on the table. Oh well, at least Beatties Ford and Central Ave are high transit ridership areas.
I honestly don't understand why an east-west light rail line isn't on the table. Oh well, at least Beatties Ford and Central Ave are high transit ridership areas.
I definitely wonder the same thing. But I am excited that this thing isn't dead. Ron Carlee is a great manager. He gives me hope despite who the next mayor will be.
While there are a lot of "ifs" in the proposal, most importantly; federal funding, I like the idea. Carlee seems like an intelligent manager, lets hope this gets done. It is imperative that the Gateway Station is connected to the CTC via a rail connection. Federal funding will likely be a lot easier with Foxx cutting the checks. Plus I have to imagine he would love to throw it back in McCrorys face (warranted or not).
And for those curious about light rail instead, the costs to run a light rail east/west through uptown would be astronomical. Keep in mind we used an old rail line for the current blue line. We do not have something like that running east/west. An elevated line would be the only real option for dedicated ROW, but you can bet we'd all be paying more in taxes for it.
Thank goodness there ar sensible people in charge like Carlee for his innovative thought and creativity. Hopefully, they secure federal funding to move this project forward.
I have ridden every line (Red, Orangle, Green, Blue and Yellow) in DC....everystop; it supports the entire area regardless of race, ethnicity or class.. I guess the metro designers in that area forgot how "black" PG county is.
Last edited by SunnyKayak; 05-14-2013 at 08:38 AM..
Reason: orphan the quoted post deleted
The silver line running down independence would be light rail.
The gold line is not supposed to shuttle in people from the suburbs. It's only outside of uptown for a few miles. It's like light rail in SouthEnd; that's not a very fast segment and even slower in uptown. If the CityLynx went 10 miles outside of uptown, then, I might see the point.....
The bottom line for many, if not most, people is that it will be slow, stuck on tracks (not easily rerouted), and extremely costly, and will do nothing a bus isn't currently doing. It will do nothing to ease congestion.
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