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I heard because The Square(Trade and Tryon) was the highest point in the city when first established and people would say that "I am going up to town" and that has stuck, but I do not know the real truth.
The feds aren't bankrolling heavy rail anymore and there's no way in hell it can be funded locally 100%; it's waaayyyy too expensive, especially in this current political environment. Charlotte's long-range transit plans include a mix of light rail, streetcars, and commuter rail and Portland, for one, shows that this mix can work. The current system would probably already be undergoing an expansion if the Great Recession hadn't happened. Personally I think Charlotte is much more progressive than most cities its size when it comes to mass transit, IMO.
are charlotte and portland growing at a similar rate?
this country is far behind as far as mass transit IMO. the fed govt definitely needs to step it up and start funding multiple heavy rail projects throughout the u.s.
obviously its wishful thinking to think that the fed govt will sponser it but i just don't see how street cars and two car light rail trains are a long term solution. i think thats wishful thinking as well, on charlotte's part.
are charlotte and portland growing at a similar rate?
this country is far behind as far as mass transit IMO. the fed govt definitely needs to step it up and start funding multiple heavy rail projects throughout the u.s.
obviously its wishful thinking to think that the fed govt will sponser it but i just don't see how street cars and two car light rail trains are a long term solution. i think thats wishful thinking as well, on charlotte's part.
and what commuter rail? link?
Just go to the cats lynx website and u will see the 2030 corridor transit plan...
Metro Portland is larger than metro Charlotte by about a good half a million, but Charlotte is growing faster.
With our deficit crisis and other fiscal issues we're dealing with, you're holding your breath if you think the feds are going to increase funding for subways/HRT, especially in this present political environment. From what I understand, they will fund 50% of the system with the rest having to come from the state and local jurisdictions. Nobody can afford that right now, especially not a city like Charlotte that doesn't have the density nor would have the ridership projections to fiscally justify such a system anyway.
And no offense, but it appears as though you are not familiar with Charlotte's long-rang transportation plans at all, especially since you refer to it as consisting of only streetcars and "two car light rail trains" (which is misleadingly inaccurate) and have no knowledge of the red line (30 mile commuter rail line to Mooresville). The 9.4 mile-long blue line extension from Uptown to University would probably already be under construction if it weren't for the Great Recession. Check here for the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan for the area. If you still aren't satisfied by this, I just think you aren't being realistic about transit implementation and funding for a relatively low-density midsized Sunbelt city in the US in the beginning of the 21st century IMO. Keep in mind that Charlotte's existing light rail line is longer than Houston's and was implemented before Phoenix's, two significantly larger and faster-growing metros.
Location: Pittsburgh (via Chicago, via Pittsburgh)
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I'd vote Atlanta.
I've been to Charlotte on several occasions. Its a nice city, but Atlanta is just more 'complete' in my opinion. Atlanta (along with Minneapolis and Austin) is near the top of my list for cities I want to explore more.
I've been to Charlotte on several occasions. Its a nice city, but Atlanta is just more 'complete' in my opinion. Atlanta (along with Minneapolis and Austin) is near the top of my list for cities I want to explore more.
We're talking specifically about the skylines of uptown Charlotte and downtown Atlanta, not about aggregate characteristics of the cities as a whole.
Correct..sorry my post came off as confusing. I actually do find the skyline itself more complete in DT Atlanta in comparison to uptown Charlotte.
EDIT: "Complete" meaning more architectural variety, density, etc.
Point taken, and I actually agree.
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