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Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,678,989 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by NDL
I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your reply.
My suggestion was to forgo the line in Gaston County, and instead build it in west Charlotte.
The economic argument for a line into Gaston County is sound, and I realize that mine is more of an emotional argument.
Right now, we have little rush hour traffic in Gaston; generally speaking, people are polite, friendly, and take the time to stop and smell the roses.
A light rail will grow the population in Gaston; change the economic character in many areas, and the virtues that I cherish will be gone.
Mine is largely an emotional argument, and I am aware of that.
I'd want to know how many people in Ballantyne live in the surrounding areas, before arguing further. Anecdotally, many people who work in Ballantyne live in Fort Mill, Indian Land, Waxhaw, Matthews, areas along Pineville Matthews Road, Carmel, Rea Rd, etc.
How would these people catch the line to Ballantyne, and what would be their incentive to?
I suppose that myself and others don't have much choice in the matter .
Light rail to Gastonia = a speed up of redevelopment.
"A creek used to run through Downtown CLT, imagine if something like that was restored?"
"Look at how San Antonio uses it's water features; imagine if we had the same thing?"
People considered installing a "crystal lake" in downtown Charlotte.
***
"So what's your point, NDL?"
The River District is almost completely barren; a CLEAN SLATE, bordering one of the area's cherished most water features!
They could've build a unique part of the City, that would've made Charlotte stand out.
Yes.
NYC.
San Francisco.
CHARLOTTE.
But what does the Gazette article show? AN EXPRESS BUS going to the (yet unbuilt) RIVER DISTRICT.
AN OPPORTUNITY SQUANDERED.
(Or perhaps 20 years after the River District is built out, we'll all be on here, clamoring that "they need to get a light rail out to the River District," which is an area that's similar in size to Ballantyne!
I am very disappointed.
What if they instead built the line with a direct stop at the Airport; weave the line through the upcoming River District, and have the line terminate in South Point Belmont? They are already planning on building a crossing there; that's in the works.
What if the new CATS line followed the plan that was proposed for the Garden Parkway? Much of that land is undeveloped, and instead of building out another suburban development (which will magnify traffic problems), they could have built village developments that are transit dependent, instead of auto dependent?
Charlotte would be a TRULY GREEN CITY, which would mitigate many of the problems associated with suburban growth; our City would be a distinct stand out against the others.
"A creek used to run through Downtown CLT, imagine if something like that was restored?"
"Look at how San Antonio uses it's water features; imagine if we had the same thing?"
People considered installing a "crystal lake" in downtown Charlotte.
***
"So what's your point, NDL?"
The River District is almost completely barren; a CLEAN SLATE, bordering one of the area's cherished most water features!
They could've build a unique part of the City, that would've made Charlotte stand out.
Yes.
NYC.
San Francisco.
CHARLOTTE.
But what does the Gazette article show? AN EXPRESS BUS going to the (yet unbuilt) RIVER DISTRICT.
AN OPPORTUNITY SQUANDERED.
(Or perhaps 20 years after the River District is built out, we'll all be on here, clamoring that "they need to get a light rail out to the River District," which is an area that's similar in size to Ballantyne!
I am very disappointed.
What if they instead built the line with a direct stop at the Airport; weave the line through the upcoming River District, and have the line terminate in South Point Belmont? They are already planning on building a crossing there; that's in the works.
What if the new CATS line followed the plan that was proposed for the Garden Parkway? Much of that land is undeveloped, and instead of building out another suburban development (which will magnify traffic problems), they could have built village developments that are transit dependent, instead of auto dependent?
Charlotte would be a TRULY GREEN CITY, which would mitigate many of the problems associated with suburban growth; our City would be a distinct stand out against the others.
Are you aware that the city of Gastonia has land on East Franklin for a train and bus station? The Fuse District is on an existing city bus route.
Are you aware that the city of Gastonia has land on East Franklin for a train and bus station? The Fuse District is on an existing city bus route.
No, I wasn't aware of that.
If someone were to tell me that they are going to use the existing freight lines for passenger car use, I would be on board (no pun intended). The freight line cuts through most downtowns (e.g. Belmont, Cramerton, Gastonia, and Kings Mountain), where the infrastructure/layout is configured in such a way as to take advantage of rail. But the current plan of running a light rail down 74? You're assured of a huge mess.
Someone needs to address the schizophrenic approach to planning, before anything gets built.
Half the Region is pursuing the "old" planning model, which, in practice, causes for sprawl and high traffic counts on our roads (which is a problem, if the roads lack sufficient capacity).
The other half of the Region is pursuing "walkable" developments that are compatible with mass transit.
The two planning methods are incongruous with one another.
This needs to get ironed out, before more building takes place.
- The way in which the Garden Parkway was routed, was done in areas where density is low, if next to non
existent. If rail was run through here, creative, rail supporting, "village" developments could be
constructed, which could keep the character of the "mill villages" that are throughout the area. The density would support rail.
- Terminate the rail at the FUSE district.
***
Most of the area where the Garden Parkway was to traverse, is now slated for single family homes on 1/4-1/2 acre lots. What will likely happen is that building will take place in the future, and everyone will bemoan the traffic that the new developments will bring. And then in 50 or so years, they will hold a conference somewhere highlighting the need to get people off of our "traffic clogged roads."
- The way in which the Garden Parkway was routed, was done in areas where density is low, if next to non
existent. If rail was run through here, creative, rail supporting, "village" developments could be
constructed, which could keep the character of the "mill villages" that are throughout the area. The density would support rail.
- Terminate the rail at the FUSE district.
***
Most of the area where the Garden Parkway was to traverse, is now slated for single family homes on 1/4-1/2 acre lots. What will likely happen is that building will take place in the future, and everyone will bemoan the traffic that the new developments will bring. And then in 50 or so years, they will hold a conference somewhere highlighting the need to get people off of our "traffic clogged roads."
Gaston County was given the old rail tracks from the old commuter line. They got the track rehabbed & periodically run a train on it. Then when the red line became a lost cause CATS decided that it wasn't a bad idea to go with the people who actually want a line and decided to tie it in with the airport, making it a 2fer.
Keep in mind that Kings Mountain wants the light rail too. The Garden Parkway was supposed to go all over in south Gaston County and end up terminating at about the limits of Bessemer City. It was a terrible scam. The plan is to rehabilitate downtown Gastonia and eventually bring back density to west Franklin.
The NCDOT plan was a commuter line going out to Boiling Springs, NC which makes little sense unless it would eventually be extended out to Asheville.
Keep in mind that SC commuters to Charlotte are going from Clover and York, up 321 to 74 & 85 while a separate group are coming from northern Cherokee County, up 85, through Kings Mountain. Stopping a light rail line in Gastonia only goes so far with fixing future traffic. People also go from Shelby to Gastonia. Even if they stop light rail in Kings Mountain that would help a lot. It would pick up people from Shelby, Cherryville, Bessemer City, Cherokee County, and Grover, besides Kings Mountain and probably several other tiny towns.
Keep in mind that SC commuters to Charlotte are going from Clover and York, up 321 to 74 & 85 while a separate group are coming from northern Cherokee County, up 85, through Kings Mountain. Stopping a light rail line in Gastonia only goes so far with fixing future traffic. People also go from Shelby to Gastonia. Even if they stop light rail in Kings Mountain that would help a lot. It would pick up people from Shelby, Cherryville, Bessemer City, Cherokee County, and Grover, besides Kings Mountain and probably several other tiny towns.
Do Gaston County and Cleveland County have a transit tax in the pipeline to fund the extension of the light rail beyond Belmont all the way to Kings Mountain or Shelby?
Based on the $1.1 billion budget of the Blue Line extension to University City, the 20 miles from Belmont to Kings Mountain could cost over $2.2 billion which could be pretty challenging for Gaston and Cleveland with just 317,000 people unless some tax increases are passed on sales or property tax. My guess is the plan by Gaston County is to at least fund the line over the river to Belmont out of the general fund, with Mecklenburg covering construction up to the border. That would leave Gaston on the hook for a portion of the bridge and last mile into Belmont.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,678,989 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by CLT4
Do Gaston County and Cleveland County have a transit tax in the pipeline to fund the extension of the light rail beyond Belmont all the way to Kings Mountain or Shelby?
Based on the $1.1 billion budget of the Blue Line extension to University City, the 20 miles from Belmont to Kings Mountain could cost over $2.2 billion which could be pretty challenging for Gaston and Cleveland with just 317,000 people unless some tax increases are passed on sales or property tax. My guess is the plan by Gaston County is to at least fund the line over the river to Belmont out of the general fund, with Mecklenburg covering construction up to the border. That would leave Gaston on the hook for a portion of the bridge and last mile into Belmont.
Right now Cleveland County has a 1/4 cent tax to pay for rural people to be covered by the Kings Mountain &/or Shelby fire departments.
If the Catawbas got permission to run the casino, they would probably donate money for the train. It would be in their best interest.
After the last census, Kings Mountain and the surrounding rural area was added to the Gaston County urban planning group. Cleveland County and Shelby pitched a fit and threatened to sue Kings Mountain and Gaston County. It was embarrassing. Well, after McCrory changed the money distribution, Cleveland County & Lincoln County joined the urban group & the Gaston people helped them light a fire under NCDOT concerning the Shelby bypass.
Would the rest of Cleveland County agree to another 1/4 cent tax? Except for Grover, Hell no! Those people hate Kings Mountain as much as they hate Charlotte.
If the Catawbas got permission to run the casino, they would probably donate money for the train. It would be in their best interest.
I thank you for adding historical context to the equation.
As for a line to the casino, now we're singing the same song
***
We're in a position right now to incorporate some unique features into Charlotte's landscape. That will be Charlotte's ticket to global respect and recognition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CLT4
Do Gaston County and Cleveland County have a transit tax in the pipeline to fund the extension of the light rail beyond Belmont all the way to Kings Mountain or Shelby?
I thought the same thing.
Meanwhile, the Gazette ran an article today, which said that the County is struggling to come up with 22 million to relocate power lines that traverse 85.
In the meantime, the idea to drop a LYNX station at 273/74 or at Park/74 is a terrible idea. I hope the plan is reworked.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,678,989 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by NDL
I thank you for adding historical context to the equation.
As for a line to the casino, now we're singing the same song
***
We're in a position right now to incorporate some unique features into Charlotte's landscape. That will be Charlotte's ticket to global respect and recognition.
I thought the same thing.
Meanwhile, the Gazette ran an article today, which said that the County is struggling to come up with 22 million to relocate power lines that traverse 85.
In the meantime, the idea to drop a LYNX station at 273/74 or at Park/74 is a terrible idea. I hope the plan is reworked.
The casino approval would fix several things in both counties. At the time that the application was submitted, the Catawbas had surveyors out on several roads including I 85 because the plan included road improvements. You can bet that they would also be willing to put money toward a light rail line between the airport and Kings Mountain. Then they could run a shuttle to the casino.
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