I think it would be negligent for our city / county planners and councils not to investigate this proposed route further. If no one has talked to CSX in decades (???) why not reach out and have a discussion about the ability to lease land or access along the existing rail lines? Having the transit line come closer to communities and the airport without significantly increasing impact given existing rail lines makes SO MUCH sense!
Makes perfect sense, because the rail is already there. It’s cheaper (assuming a good negotiation with CSX) and will take less time to implement. I’ve noticed the tracks along Monroe and wondered about it. Maybe the best selling point is the proximity to the airport.
Let's see -- cheaper, faster, and would actually serve the airport. Really? Some attention being paid to intermodality? Shocking! The concept is not groundbreaking. Anyone who has taken Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor is used to seeing commuter rail, heavy passenger rail and freight rail in the same corridor, often sharing station stops. The states of VA and NC (including the General Assembly) have worked successfully with CSX in the last 5 years to close a deal on ROW from Raleigh to Richmond, breaking ground in July 2024. So it appears that getting CSX to the table is not the problem. So what is the problem? Whose ox is being gored by revisiting the options? These processes take years, and it is ludicrous not to adapt to changing conditions -- or a better idea. If we are hoping for federal funding assistance from FTA, they really like "cheaper, faster, and intermodal." Or will the parochial interests of what may be a stale plan carry the day?
I fail to understand why Mint Hill leadership failed to reject the plan which will delay a light rail serving our community along with Matthews to uptown and the airport. In addition, we only need to look at Denver and Minneapolis as examples of light rail links from their airports to city centers to see it can be done efficiently and provide a seamless connection for users. A rapid bus service to uptown is a worthless punt in a bid to gain support .
My husband and I have been traveling in Europe for the last 3 weeks. Haven't driven a car once. We encourage City Fathers to move quickly to solve our transit problems. Using existing rail lines seems an idea worth pursuing. We desperately need non-car options.
The problem isn't really the city fathers and mothers; it's the state. When the legislature scrapped all state funding for rail transit after the 2010 GOP takeover of the Gen. Ass., that essentially killed Charlotte's plans for going on two decades now. Frustrating, yes. Big Oil.
Definitely needs to be considered yet lets remember that even if the 1% sales tax is approved there is not enough money to build out the Silver line from Mathews to the airport.
Indy Blvd was a tough spot for light rail TOD even before NCDOT sabotaged that idea. That said, dealing w RR companies is excruciatingly hard. They hold all the cards. See: Red Line delays, due only to Norfolk Southern intransigence. Also "passenger trains," commuter rail, and light rail are different species w different needs, headways, power supplies, ROW needs, etc. Sorta like sharks, trout, and minnows are all "fish." but ... A whole new corridor will need all new plans to even be in the game for fed funding. Existing Silver Line plans have years of work already done. A corridor shift would delay any Silver Line a minimum of 4-5 years. So do we wait another 10 years (or more) for a somewhat better light rail route? Tough call. When Matthews stops electing anti-transit legislators (Rucho, I'm looking at you), then maybe they should pitch their fit.
I think it would be negligent for our city / county planners and councils not to investigate this proposed route further. If no one has talked to CSX in decades (???) why not reach out and have a discussion about the ability to lease land or access along the existing rail lines? Having the transit line come closer to communities and the airport without significantly increasing impact given existing rail lines makes SO MUCH sense!
Makes perfect sense, because the rail is already there. It’s cheaper (assuming a good negotiation with CSX) and will take less time to implement. I’ve noticed the tracks along Monroe and wondered about it. Maybe the best selling point is the proximity to the airport.
This is a great idea and it gets cars off independence. Who knows it might even be a cheaper option.
Let's see -- cheaper, faster, and would actually serve the airport. Really? Some attention being paid to intermodality? Shocking! The concept is not groundbreaking. Anyone who has taken Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor is used to seeing commuter rail, heavy passenger rail and freight rail in the same corridor, often sharing station stops. The states of VA and NC (including the General Assembly) have worked successfully with CSX in the last 5 years to close a deal on ROW from Raleigh to Richmond, breaking ground in July 2024. So it appears that getting CSX to the table is not the problem. So what is the problem? Whose ox is being gored by revisiting the options? These processes take years, and it is ludicrous not to adapt to changing conditions -- or a better idea. If we are hoping for federal funding assistance from FTA, they really like "cheaper, faster, and intermodal." Or will the parochial interests of what may be a stale plan carry the day?
I fail to understand why Mint Hill leadership failed to reject the plan which will delay a light rail serving our community along with Matthews to uptown and the airport. In addition, we only need to look at Denver and Minneapolis as examples of light rail links from their airports to city centers to see it can be done efficiently and provide a seamless connection for users. A rapid bus service to uptown is a worthless punt in a bid to gain support .
My husband and I have been traveling in Europe for the last 3 weeks. Haven't driven a car once. We encourage City Fathers to move quickly to solve our transit problems. Using existing rail lines seems an idea worth pursuing. We desperately need non-car options.
The problem isn't really the city fathers and mothers; it's the state. When the legislature scrapped all state funding for rail transit after the 2010 GOP takeover of the Gen. Ass., that essentially killed Charlotte's plans for going on two decades now. Frustrating, yes. Big Oil.
This alternate route for the silver line seems to make much more sense. I think CATS and the Metropolitan Transit Authority should talk to CSX.
Definitely needs to be considered yet lets remember that even if the 1% sales tax is approved there is not enough money to build out the Silver line from Mathews to the airport.
Indy Blvd was a tough spot for light rail TOD even before NCDOT sabotaged that idea. That said, dealing w RR companies is excruciatingly hard. They hold all the cards. See: Red Line delays, due only to Norfolk Southern intransigence. Also "passenger trains," commuter rail, and light rail are different species w different needs, headways, power supplies, ROW needs, etc. Sorta like sharks, trout, and minnows are all "fish." but ... A whole new corridor will need all new plans to even be in the game for fed funding. Existing Silver Line plans have years of work already done. A corridor shift would delay any Silver Line a minimum of 4-5 years. So do we wait another 10 years (or more) for a somewhat better light rail route? Tough call. When Matthews stops electing anti-transit legislators (Rucho, I'm looking at you), then maybe they should pitch their fit.