LYNX Rapid Transit Services

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LYNX
Info
Type Light rail
System Charlotte Area Transit System
Locale Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Terminals I-485/South Boulevard (south)
7th Street (north)
No. of stations 15
Service routes Blue Line
Daily ridership 18,600[1]
Operation
Opened November 24, 2007[2]
Owner Charlotte Area Transit System
Operator(s) Charlotte Area Transit System
Rolling stock Siemens Avanto S70
Technical
Line length 9.6 mi (15.45 km)
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) (standard gauge)
Electrification Overhead catenary
Line map
uKBFa
7th Street Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
3rd Street Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
Stonewall Handicapped/disabled access
uAKRZu
Interstate 277
uBHF
Carson Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
Bland Street Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
East/West Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
New Bern Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
Scaleybark Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
Woodlawn Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
Tyvola Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
Archdale Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
Arrowood Handicapped/disabled access
uBHF
Sharon Road West Handicapped/disabled access
uKBFe
I-485/South Boulevard Handicapped/disabled access

LYNX is the light rail transit service in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States that began service on November 24, 2007, comprising a 9.6-mile line known as the Blue Line that runs through Uptown and South End, before paralleling South Boulevard to its southern terminus just north of Interstate 485 at the Pineville city limits.[3][4] It became the first major rapid rail service of any kind in North Carolina, and began operating seventy years after a previous Charlotte streetcar system was disbanded in 1938, in favor of motorized bus transit.[5][3] The system officially opened for service on Saturday, November 24, 2007, and as part of its opening celebration fares were not collected.[2] Regular service with fare collection commenced on Monday, November 26, 2007.[2]

Planners envision future expansion of the LYNX Blue Line, in addition to commuter trains, streetcars, additional light rail and bus rapid transit.

Contents

[edit] History

As Charlotte began to see extensive growth by the 1980s, it became desirable to control and focus the expansion. By 1984, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning commission made its first recommendation for a light rail line connecting Uptown Charlotte with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as part of the community's 2005 Vision Plan as a means to control growth.[6]

After remaining dormant for nearly three years, the light rail debate once again emerged as a light rail/mass transit task force was established by then mayor Sue Myrick in early 1988. The task force received $185,000 for the initial study of the system. The system was envisioned to consist of three lines radiating out from Uptown Charlotte.[7] One line was to envisioned to connect with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to the northeast; a second was envisioned to connect Pineville, with expansion envisioned to both Fort Mill and Rock Hill to the south; and a third was envisioned to connect with Matthews, with expansion envisioned to Monroe to the southeast.[7]

By September 1988, the results of the initial study carried out by Barton-Aschman Associates placed a $467 million price tag on a 77-mile (124 km) system encompassing a loop around Uptown Charlotte and eight separate corridors radiating in all directions from the center city.[8] The corridors envisioned included one to the east along Albemarle Road, to the southeast connecting with SouthPark, to the southeast connecting with Matthews, to the south connecting with Pineville, to the west connecting with Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, to the northeast connecting with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, to the northwest along Brookshire Boulevard, and to the north connecting with Davidson.[8]

In 1998 Mecklenburg County voters approved a one-half cent sales tax to be utilized in the implementation of the 2025 Integrated Transit/Land-Use Plan, which include development of a light rail network.[9] Once the tax was approved, the planning for the South Corridor to Pineville commenced.

LYNX signage at the Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena station
LYNX signage at the Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena station

Although light rail had been envisioned connecting Charlotte to Rock Hill in previous years, official planning for the corridor, later to become the Blue Line, would not commence until 1999. The line was to have initially been $225 million, 13.5-mile (21.7 km) route serving as a connection between Uptown Charlotte and Pineville along the Norfolk Southern rail line paralleling South Boulevard.[10] In February 2000, the Metropolitan Transit Commission unanimously approved the corridor for the region's first light rail line.

By April 2000, the first funds towards its construction were spent. $8.2 million was allocated for the initial purchase of materials for the lines construction through Uptown Charlotte and South End.[11] By September, Parsons Transportation Group was hired by CATS to complete engineering and environmental studies for the corridor. By this time costs estimates for the completed line increased to $331 million.[12]

LYNX car #104
LYNX car #104

By July 2002, the overall costs for completing the line escalated to $371 million as a result of increasing land and construction costs. Additionally, the southern terminus for the line was moved approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the north along South Boulevard as a result of low projected ridership figures for the proposed downtown Pineville station, and primarily, as a result of the Mayor of Pineville, George Fowler, and the Pineville Town Council voting to not receive the line.[13][14] By March 2004, costs of the line again were increased to $398.7 million and were again revised to $427 million by January 2005.[15] The increased estimates were blamed on both rising land and construction costs. After numerous delays caused by increasing cost estimates, the official groundbreaking for the line occurred on February 26, 2005.[16]

As a result of the amount of traffic at a number of the stations along its route, CATS determined that bridges spanning the busiest road crossings would be necessary to prevent further congestion. Beginning on January 4, 2006, the installation of concrete girders ranging in size between 89-119 feet commenced at the Tyvola station and was complete by February. Following the construction of these overpasses at Tyvola, similar overpasses were later installed at the Archdale station from April 5 through May 5; at the Woodlawn station from May 10 through May 30; and at the Arrowood station from July 13 through July 23.[17]

On February 22, 2006, CATS unveiled "LYNX" as the official name of its light rail network, chosen from a list of over 250 possibilities including City Lynx and Xcel. The name was partially chosen so as to adhere to the big cat theme in the names of the local professional sports teams, (the Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte Bobcats). "LYNX" was also chosen since it was homophonous with "links", suggesting connectivity.[18]

By September 2006, estimated completion costs for the Blue Line once again were increased. This time the increase was blamed on poor planning and design of the line from the consultants hired by CATS to design the line, Parsons Transportation Group. Revised estimates as of early 2007 called for the project to be completed at a final cost of $462.7 million, more than double the original estimate of $227 million. [19]

On its opening weekend of November 24 and 25, 2007 all trips were free, resulting in 24,000 rider trips in the first four hours and 60,000 trips in the first day. This was well above maximum rated capacity for LYNX service.[20] Revenue service commenced with the first train on November 26, 2007.

[edit] Ridership

Prior to the opening of the line in November 2007, CATS projected ridership for the completed Blue Line to be 9,100 on an average weekday in its first year of operation, and gradually increase to 18,100 by 2025.[4] Though the line averaged 8,700 daily weekday ridership in its first few months of operation,[21] in line with its projected first-year ridership of 9,100.[22] by the first quarter of 2008, weekday ridership had increased to 18,600, double first-year projections and ahead of the 2025 projections[1] For 2008, LYNX is projeced to handle 4.2 million trips.[23]

[edit] Controversy

LYNX car #103
LYNX car #103

Controversy over the South Corridor (Blue Line) and the entire LYNX system stems from its opponents viewing the project as being too costly for the projected ridership of the completed line, Charlotte-Mecklenburg's lack of need for urban rail both now and well in to the future, and urban rail's unlikeliness of having a significant effect reducing Charlotte's road congestion.[24] The project has been scrutinized by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation as being an inefficient use of federal taxpayer dollars[25] as well as being a major issue between incumbent Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory and Democratic opponent Craig Madans in the 2005 mayoral race.[26]

Critics of local urban rail also cite cost-overruns and concerns over CATS management, as further reasons to launch a petition drive to put a proposed repeal of the 1998 transit tax on the November 2007 ballot. Mecklenburg County elections officials announced in June 2007 that more than enough signatures had been gathered and validated, guaranteeing a referendum on the transit tax. The methods by which these signatures were gathered were seen by many as misinformed in that some who signed the petition alleged they were not told they were signing a petition to repeal the transit tax.[27]

Opponents claimed that $8.9 billion is slated for transit out of a total of $12.7 billion for all transportation projects slated for the Charlotte region (Long Range Plan). Much, if not most, of this cost is due to rail.

The opponents also allege transit will provide a viable means of transportation for just 2-3% of the Charlotte region's travel needs, and 1% of regional travel, according to Dr. David Hartgen, PhD, and professor of Transportation Policy Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte[28][29][30][31] Road Transportation advocate Wendell Cox also cites similar concerns of low cost/benefit ratio of the South Corridor line (and urban rail for Charlotte-Mecklenburg).[32] In addition, Sam Staley, Director of Urban and Land Use Policy for the Reason Foundation, says that LYNX, and transit for that matter, struggles to capture riders in a sprawling city like Charlotte, where the majority of trips aren't made to the central city.[33]

After much debate, Mecklenburg County voters rejected the repeal of the transportation tax by a margin of 70 percent to 30 percent on November 6, 2007.[34][35] See Charlotte Area Transit System for more information.

The campaign to save the tax garnered more than $650,000 - of which at least one third (more than $200,000) came from local corporations such as: Duke Energy, Wachovia, Bank of America, McDonald Transit Associates, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and Siemens (German company that builds the light rail cars) - and more than 20 other known major businesses, all of which former city council member Don Reid claims profit from CATS operations. The group working to repeal the transit tax raised less than $13,000, mostly from individuals.[36]

[edit] Rolling stock

Interior of LYNX car #110
Interior of LYNX car #110

In January 2004, CATS began the process of formally accepting bids for the construction of the systems vehicles. Original estimates for the vehicles was $3.5 million per car with the firms Bombardier, Siemens and Kinki Sharyo bidding for the final contract. The $52 million contract for 16 vehicles was awarded to Siemens on February 25, 2004.[37]

LYNX's fleet will initially consist of 16, 91.3-foot, 97,470 pound Siemens-built Avanto vehicles, similar to those currently in operation for the METRORail in Houston, Texas. Each vehicle will contain 68 seats and have a maximum capacity of 236 passengers complete with four bike racks. Each car has a maximum speed of 65 mph but top speed will be restricted to 55 mph with its power coming from 750 volts via overhead wires.[38]

The original order of 16 rail cars was manufactured by Siemens, of Berlin, Germany, with delivery complete in 2006-07. These cars are numbered 101-116. Additionally, CATS retains an option to order an additional 25 cars based on ridership once the line is operational.[39] Car 101 arrived via flatbed truck to Charlotte on Friday, June 23, 2006, from the Siemens facility in Sacramento, California where it was constructed. Testing of the vehicles commenced in August 2006 along a 1.3 mile stretch of completed rail between Tremont Avenue and the main CATS light rail shed off South Boulevard. During the testing phase, each car will log 1,000 miles in order to adequately test the acceleration, braking and overall performance for each vehicle.[39]

Three replica historic trolleys rejoined the modern fleet in April 2008. These vehicles, along with restored historic Car Number 85, were operated by the nonprofit Charlotte Trolley from the late 1990s until the start of LYNX construction. [40]

[edit] Fares

Fares are purchased on the platform of all stations from self-served ticket vending machines. These machines accept cash, coins, debit and credit cards.[41] Transfers from buses, weekly and monthly passes are also accepted. Fares are equal to those of the existing bus network which as of June 1, 2008 are $1.30 for a one-way trip, $4.00 for a one-day pass and $13.00 for a weekly pass.[42]

LYNX's fare system is organized on the proof-of-payment system; there are no turnstiles at the entrances to train platforms. Instead, fares are enforced by random sweeps through trains and occasional checks for fares as passengers enter and leave the train by CATS Fare Inspectors.[41] If a passenger is caught without evidence of proper fare, a citation of $50 is issued in addition to potentially facing a Class 3 misdemeanor charge.[41]

[edit] Public art

Main article: List of LYNX public art artists

As part of the budget for the LYNX system, a percentage of the overall cost was reserved for both the purchase and display of public art along the route. Through the utilization of less than 1 percent of the overall design and construction budget, 13 artists have been selected to design displays for each of the Blue Line's 15 stations.[43]

[edit] Future Expansion

The following are planned extensions to the existing light rail system:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American Public Transportation Association, Light Rail Transit Ridership Report, First Quarter 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Harrison, Steve; Kristen Valle. "Light rail, heavy traffic - Thousands wait in lines for a free ride on 1st day", The Charlotte Observer, November 25, 2007, p. 1A. 
  3. ^ a b LYNX Blue Line South Corridor Light Rail Project Description. Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
  4. ^ a b Harrison, Steve. "A momentous arrival: After opening-day hoopla, what's ahead for Lynx?", The Charlotte Observer, November 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-24. 
  5. ^ Rhee, Foon. "Is a light rail system in Charlotte's future?", The Charlotte Observer, January 19, 1988, pp. 1B. 
  6. ^ Israel, Mae. "Planners propose strategies for shifting Charlotte-Mecklenburg growth balance", The Charlotte Observer, July 9, 1985, pp. 8B. 
  7. ^ a b Rhee, Foon. "Is a light rail system in Charlotte's future?", The Charlotte Observer, January 19, 1988, pp. 1B. 
  8. ^ a b Rhee, Foon. "Light rail has heavy price tag, transit system cost put at $467 million", The Charlotte Observer, December 3, 1988, pp. 1B. 
  9. ^ Rapid Transit Planning. Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
  10. ^ Whitacre, Dianne. "Meeting to help decide when, where trains will be comin' down track", The Charlotte Observer, January 25, 1999, pp. 1C. 
  11. ^ Whitacre, Dianne. "$8.2 million will get the ball rolling on light rail", The Charlotte Observer, April 27, 2000, pp. 2B. 
  12. ^ Whitacre, Dianne. "Contract awarded for light rail engineering", The Charlotte Observer, September 21, 2000, pp. 4B. 
  13. ^ Lowrey, Michael. "Charlotte, Triangle Transit Delayed", Carolina Journal, June 11, 2004. 
  14. ^ Whitacre, Dianne. "Cost of light rail to the south up 11%", The Charlotte Observer, July 25, 2002, pp. 3B. 
  15. ^ Whitacre, Dianne. "Light rail: Higher prices, later arrival", The Charlotte Observer, January 11, 2005, pp. 1A. 
  16. ^ Whitacre, Dianne. "Celebration marks start of work on light-rail line", The Charlotte Observer, February 27, 2005, pp. 2B. 
  17. ^ Whitacre, Dianne. "Light-rail reaches key stage, installation of bridge girders to start this week", The Charlotte Observer, January 3, 2006, pp. 1B. 
  18. ^ "Light-rail name keeps the CATS theme going", The Charlotte Observer, February 23, 2006, pp. 1B. 
  19. ^ LaCour, Greg. "Light-rail tab unveiled", The Charlotte Observer, October 3, 2006, pp. 1B. 
  20. ^ Harrison, Steve. "Light Rail, Heavy Traffic", The Charlotte Observer, November 25, 2007, pp. 1A. 
  21. ^ Gaffney, John (Fourth Quarter 2007). Light Rail Public Transportation Ridership Report. American Public Transportation Association. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.
  22. ^ Charlotte: New light rail line's ridership exceeds forecast by 35%. Light Rail Now! NewsLog (December 15, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
  23. ^ Steve Harrison. Light rail line rolls right along. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  24. ^ Stop the Train Mecklenburg. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
  25. ^ "Conservative group criticizes light-rail funding", Charlotte Business Journal, June 15, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-23. 
  26. ^ Rubin, Richard. "Maddan takes 3rd bid to shops and churches", Charlotte Observer, October 13, 2005. 
  27. ^ Harrison, Steve. "Transit petition found support in surprising areas", Charlotte Observer, April 8, 2007. 
  28. ^ Federal Transit Administration. National Transit Database.
  29. ^ Dr. David Hartgen. David Hartgen on the McCrory Line.
  30. ^ Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (May 16, 2007). 2030 Long-Range Transportation Plan Amendment.
  31. ^ CATS Metropolitan Transit Commission (October 26, 2006). 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan: Implementation Scenarios and Preliminary Financial Results.
  32. ^ Cox, Wendell. Breach of Faith:Light Rail and Smart Growth in Charlotte.
  33. ^ Harrison, Steve. "Rail a focus of transit tax debate", Charlotte Observer, September 20, 2007. 
  34. ^ Mecklenburg County Board of Elections (November 6, 2007). Mecklenburg County, NC 11/06/2007 General Election.
  35. ^ Harrison, Steve. "Tax supporters, foes surprised by margin of victory", Charlotte Observer, 2008-11-07. 
  36. ^ The Charlotte Observer (October 30, 2007). Transit Tax is Popular with Big Business.
  37. ^ Whitacre, Dianne. "Planners OK buying 16 trains for $53 million", The Charlotte Observer, February 26, 2004, pp. 4B. 
  38. ^ Light Rail Vehicles. Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.
  39. ^ a b Rubin, Richard. "1st LYNX car arrives, but 1,000 miles of tests await", The Charlotte Observer, June 24, 2006, pp. 1B. 
  40. ^ Harrison, Steve. Trolley joining Lynx on light-rail tracks. Charlotte Observer. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
  41. ^ a b c Charlotte Area Transit System (November 7, 2007). Ticket Fare Machines: Fare Evasion.
  42. ^ Charlotte Area Transit System (June 1, 2008). LYNX Fares.
  43. ^ ABC's of Art: Adams, Blum, and Cassidy...Just to Name a Few!. South Transitions. Charlotte Area Transit System (Winter 2006). Retrieved on 2007-09-29.

[edit] External links

  • CATS Rapid Transit Planning
  • Official link to LYNX Blue Line opened November 24th, 2007
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