Public Comments Summary

January 23, 2001

Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC

 

Purpose of the meeting:

To review the MIS process with the public and receive citizens reaction to the screened transit alternatives in the Northeast Corridor.

 

Attendees: 36

 

Staff Present:

City of Charlotte Lead Staff:

Kelly Goforth, Project Manager, CATS

Kathy Cornett, Land-Use Manager, C-M Planning Commission

Jessica Stipe, CR specialist, CATS

Brian Nadolny, Transit Planner, CATS

David Leard, CATS

Keith Richardson, Charlotte Corporate Communications

John Muth, CATS

Jon Downing

 

Consultant Team:

David Miller, PBQ&D

David Holden, LDR

 

Public Comments

Questions Following Presentation

Q:  Will transit be provided to the 49 side of the UNC-Charlotte campus?

A:  Planning staff have been in talks with the University officials.  Currently, there is local service that provides transit service on 49 right now, and we don't anticipate eliminating those local routes. 

Q:  It seems that you miss an opportunity to serve Hidden Valley on Sugar Creek Road.

A:  We've received mixed messages from that area as to how they would like to be served by transit; (while we would like to provide service) we don't want to be obtrusive.

 

Breakout Sessions

What are the advantages/disadvantages of each alternative?  (A) Advantages  (D) Disadvantages

Group 1

Alternative NE-3:  Bus Rapid Transit on I-85 plus Rapid Bus

NE-3 faster, but not neighborhood friendly. (D)

 

Alternative NE-4:  LRT on NCRR to N. Tryon via Sugar Creek with Bus Rapid on Harris Blvd.

Can LRT use the rail tracks there now?

 

Alternative NE-5:  LRT on N. Tryon with dedicated right of way

Will the LRT on N. Tryon be single or double track?

NE-5 has traffic issues. (D)

LRT on N. Tryon can revitalize the corridor but not as quickly. (D)

 

Alternative NE—6:  Streetcar on N. Tryon/BRT on US 29 with Rapid Bus on Harris Blvd.

NE-6 covers more areas than the BRT option. (A)

NE-6 is more visible, more stops, access to businesses.  (A)

 

Comments

Hidden Valley residents concerned about traffic flow against dedicated right of way.

More buses closer to town on Tryon will make traffic worse

Will there be parking lots on the outskirts of town?

There must be a way for the people in the neighborhoods to get to the stations.

There must be crosstown services possibly at Eastway and Sugar Creek and provided access to major activity centers such as SouthPark and Eastland areas.

Densities are increasing on Harris Blvd.

Population increases will be dramatic in Mecklenburg County.

Can you add commuter rail later on N. Tryon?

Should start talking about intra-corridor connectivity.

Look at a feeder bus system

Why is the Amtrak station being moved?  Is CATS a part of the study?

What will happen to the old Amtrak station?

Have there been any studies on the development of N. Tryon with these alternatives?

What densities are needed to support transit?

Will things change as many rail activities move to the airport?

Which alternatives would be most friendly for transit oriented development?

Would any of the LRT be elevated?

What is the station spacing in the South Corridor?

What is the sequence of the corridors?  Is ridership considered?

What are the expectations of the entire system?

 

Group 2

Alternative NE-3:  Bus Rapid Transit on I-85 plus Rapid Bus

Less likely for economic development. (D)

Effectiveness is limited.  What we already have is limited.  Why would anyone use it instead of driving? (D)

It's not feasible.  It would encourage me to use my car. (D)

Bus routes are set up to fail; it would not attract riders like rail. (D)

 

Alternative NE-4:  LRT on NCRR to N. Tryon via Sugar Creek with Bus Rapid on Harris Blvd.

Feeder buses are essential for adjacent communities.

Are there parking spaces at the LRT stops?

 

Alternative NE-5:  LRT on N. Tryon with dedicated right of way

 

Alternative NE—6:  Streetcar on N. Tryon/BRT on US 29 with Rapid Bus on Harris Blvd.

Streetcar isn't very efficient from a transit perspective.

 

Comments

How would you travel to other corridors or other sections of town (with BRT)?

Would BRT vehicles travel on dedicated right of way?

None of these alternatives offers much access to UNC-Charlotte especially for staff who work on the 49 side of the campus.

Current local bus service in the Northeast is very poor.

Because the corridor is dispersed, riders will need park-n-rides to use transit.

Transit planning staff should review UNC-Charlotte's Master Plan.

How much authority does the C-M Planning Commission have to dictate transit-oriented development?

Will there be dual tracks to offer both express and local service with the rail alternatives?

Land-use must go hand-in-hand with transit for the system to succeed.

Think big and far out in time.

 

Comment Sheets (10 returned)

How important do you think each of the following Major Investment Study Goals are?   Scale 1-5, ranging from not important to very important

 Improve access and mobility

Eight— selected 5

Two— selected 3

 

Coordinate growth and transportation

Eight—selected 5

Two—selected 4

 

Locate stations to maximize development opportunities

Eight—selected 5

Two—selected 3

 

Preserve and protect the environment

Seven—selected 5

One—selected 4

Two—selected 3

 

Provide effective and efficient transit options

Eight—selected 5

Two—selected 4

 

In relation to the goals above, how well do you think the following alternatives will serve the corridor?  Ranging 1-5 from not well to very well

 Alternative NE-3:  Bus Rapid Transit on I-85 plus Rapid Bus

Four—selected 3

One—selected 2

Five—selected 1

 

Alternative NE-4:  Light Rail Transit (LRT) on NSRR to N. Tryon via Sugar Creek

Four—selected 5

Five—selected 3

One—no response

 

Alternative NE-5:  Light Rail Transit on N. Tryon with Dedicated Right of Way

Five—selected 5

Two—selected 4

Two—selected 3

One—selected 2

 

Alternative NE-6:  Streetcar on N. Tryon to the Weave plus Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on US 29

One—selected 5

Two—selected 4

Three—selected 3

Two—selected 2

Two—selected one

 

Additional Comments

Major issues in 10 years will be any connectivity of neighbors just south of Norfolk Southern line (Old Concord-NC 49) as state greatly reduces access.

I feel that the public meetings are a vital part of the transit planning process; however, some people seem to give input which only serves their needs and purposes (i.e. will the transit be convenient to my home or my neighborhood).  I think it's important that some of these comments be seen for what they are, keeping in mind that the goal of this whole process is to create the best system that serves the community as a whole.  Not everyone is going to be happy.  The goals that have been narrowed down are great, so stick to those and keep emphasizing these points to the public.

Placing rapid transit (not bus along N. Tryon) would provide great revitalization to the N. Tryon area.  We truly need to build the alternatives to completely cover all the transit needs, current and future.

Need rapid bus service on east Harris.