Public Meeting Summary

Oct. 9, 2001

Sugaw Creek Recreational Center, Charlotte, NC

 

Purpose of the meeting:

To gain public input regarding land use, station area development, and evaluation standards for transit technologies and alignments still in consideration.

 

Attendees:  22

 

Staff Present

City of Charlotte Lead Staff:

Sarah La Belle, CATS

Jessica Stipe, CATS

Brian Nadolny, CATS

Sue Jones, CATS

Neal Luther, CMPC

 

Consultant Team:

Mark Theys, HNTB/LDR, Int'l

David Holden, HNTB/LDR, Int'l

Donald Simpson, HNTB/LDR, Int'l

Amelle Cardone, HNTB/LDR, Int'l

Kipp Shrack, HNTB/LDR, Int'l

 

Assisting staff:

Rick Davis, City of Charlotte Corp. Comm.

 

Public Comments

Questions/Comments

How will rail affect neighborhoods next to the tracks?

Transit is a good option for commuters and those concerned with preserving the environment.

Consider LRT to the speedway and across Speedway Blvd. to Concord Mills

I-85 is the wrong place for transit if the goal is economic development.  Redevelopment would be facilitated along an existing corridor.

LRT/DMU should be at Greenville station so people who live there can use the train.

There are no options to connect to the main line of Norfolk Southern, which would offer direct connections to future commuter rail (Concord etc.).

Historic North Charlotte/NoDa Business District is really excited to have a LRT station as close as possible to Davidson St. with the current development scheduled for the N. Davidson corridor.  With $60 million in storefront retail/restaurants and live/work zoning, a LRT station incorporated into these developments would really complement planning and reduce traffic on roads.

In favor of light rail through Derita.  Rail is already in place.  (My) second choice is BRT down Graham extension to Neal Road (Spring Crossing Station) lots of residents in the area would use the system.

Proposed Graham St. extension is sorely needed.  (Connection between Neal Road and Sugar Creek)

Very concerned about landscaping around tracks and design of BRT—images issues and ownership/maintenance

Will citizens be part of CE (conceptual engineering) process?

Leaders need to get the message that citizens want rapid transit.  Purchase CSX/NS rights of way.  Now is the time to purchase.

Is there enough money to purchase right of way?  Can tourists' money be used?

If economic development is a priority, I-85 is the wrong place/alignment.

What criteria are being used to determine which corridor is next to receive rapid transit?

BRT vs. LRT—Will there be a citizen vote?  How have you gathered input?

Greenway connection under I-85 (UNCC to Research park)

LRT needs to be extended to the speedway.

US 29 is the where the major pull of the corridor is.

Show designs from South Corridor so people can see what they look like

Extend LRT options to Concord Mills

Prefer station at Mineral Springs and Sugar Creek because of land availability and access to surrounding neighborhoods (as opposed to station at Nevin and Gibbon from North Corridor)

What about connections to commuter rail in North from NE?

 

Comment Sheets (4 returned)

When considering a transit technology and alignment please rank the following criteria in the order of importance from 1-9 with 1 being of highest importance.

Environmental impacts e.g. noise, air pollution

2—2 votes

9—2 votes

 Average:  5.5

               

Making jobs, houses and key destinations

1—1 vote

2—1 vote

3—1 vote

5—1 vote

Average:  2.75      

 

Cost to build transit system

2—1 vote

3—1 vote

6—1 vote

7—1 vote

Average:  4.5

                                               

Cost to operate transit system

3—1 vote

7—1 vote

8—2 votes

Average:  8.6

 

Economic development/redevelopment

1—3 votes

7—1 vote

Average: 2.5

 

Number of potential riders

2—1 vote

3—1 vote

6—1 vote

8—1 vote

Average:  4.75

                               

Frequency of Service

1—1 vote

4—2 votes

5—1 vote

Average:  3.5

 

Reasonable Fares

2—1 vote

3—1 vote

5—1 vote

9—1 vote

Average:  4.75

 

Comfort and convenience

1—1 vote

2—1 vote

4—1 vote

6—1 vote

Average:  3.25     

 

If near you, would you walk to a transit station?

(4) Yes

(0) No

 

If you could not walk to a station, which of the following might you do:

Drive to station park and ride lot (4)

Take a local bus to transit station (1)

Bicycle to transit station (1)

Would not take transit (0)

 

When rapid transit is up and running, do you imagine you would ride it to:

 Work (1)

Cultural or sporting events  (4)

Other:

Leisure activities

 

What information did you find useful or most interesting and why?

Great breakdown of potential station sites and revitalization possibilities

The proposals for light rail and BRT because that's of most concern to me and my future mode of transportation and property values

Station area maps

 

What information did you find useless or unnecessary and why?

All good information

None

 

Additional written comments:

CATS staff so personally available for questions and to explain proposals was extremely helpful.

Consideration should be given to light rail station at NC 49/I-485 at Norfolk Southern Railway because of connection possibilities with future commuter rail from Salisbury/Concord.

More emphasis on light rail in planning process and better bus service to improve negative images

Expand focus toward Concord/Kannapolis and beyond