Calendar:
Monday, March 12 - Wednesday, March 14
National League of Cities Conference, Washington, DC
Thursday, March 15
6:00 p.m. - District 3 town Hall Meeting - CPCC West Campus
Information Items:
North Tryon Redevelopment Plan - Public Meeting on March 20
Staff Resource:
Tom Warshauer, 704-336-4522 - twarshauer@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The first of three Public Meetings to solicit input for the North Tryon Redevelopment Plan from businesses, residents and property owners will occur on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at The Extravaganza Depot, 1610 N. Tryon Street (enter at rear of building). Warren
and Associates, lead consultants on the project, will facilitate the meeting. The focus will be on Section 1, from Brookshire to Sugar Creek. Council is invited to attend.
In follow-up to inquiries regarding the NCDOT's efforts to clean the highways, they have advised the Charlotte Department of Transportation of the following:
- They have already begun efforts to clean the interstates.
- They will officially kick off the effort on March 17, 2007, 10 am, at the Cindy Lane bridge over I-77. The effort should take three weeks.
- When they clean I-77 south from Tyvola Road to the South Carolina line, they will be closing a lane of travel to ensure safety of work crews. Public to be advised.
- The Department of Corrections is partnering with the NCDOT to clean roads where it can be done safely by inmate crews.
- The North Carolina Highway Patrol is partnering with NCDOT on enforcement of littering and secure load laws. They will have a greater presence during the clean up effort.
- The NCDOT plans to privatize the litter pick up along the interstates. Once a vendor has been chosen, they will use NCDOT crews to clean primary and secondary state maintained roads (examples: W.T. Harris, Eastway Drive).
The NCDOT is concerned about the litter accumulation on the interstates. Cigarette butts, plastic bags, and large debris from haulers and contractors are not only littering the interstates, but clogging storm drains and causing flooding. In an effort to reduce litter, the NCDOT has asked the North Carolina Office of Beautification to assist in promoting the no littering message.
In addition, City staff is meeting to determine ways that we may be able to help reinforce the no littering message. There are a number of initiatives that the City is considering, which includes messaging on the Government Channel and website, and working with the Keep Charlotte Beautiful Committee.
On Thursday March 8 the Urban Land Institute Advisory Panel presented their report on Reinventing Eastland Mall. Staff is reviewing the report. The report is available on the Economic Development Office's web page:
http://edo.charmeck.org
CATS staff and Charlotte Trolley, Inc. have been working to finalize arrangements for a new Trolley Barn and Museum located adjacent to the Bland Street LYNX Blue line station. In order to proceed with the construction of the new barn, CATS and Charlotte Trolley, Inc. are
negotiating a no-cost (rent free) lease with Charlotte Trolley, Inc. on City-owned property for a base period of 50 years. The Lease Agreement is subject to FTA review and approval prior to seeking Council's approval. Staff expects that the Lease Agreement will be submitted to Council by early summer. In addition, Charlotte Trolley, Inc. anticipates that Mecklenburg County will pledge approximately $700,000 towards the construction of the new barn and museum with the remaining funding being raised by Charlotte Trolley, Inc.
CATS staff is working on scheduling the return of the Charlotte Trolley service once construction of the LYNX Blue Line is complete. CATS plans to operate its Charlotte Trolley service using replica trolleys during off-peak periods and Saturdays and Sundays for regular passenger service. Due to the seven and one-half (7 ½) minute headways planned for peak service, CATS is not planning to operate any Charlotte Trolley service vehicles during weekday rush hours.
Recently, work on Car 85 was completed which included several modifications to allow this historic vehicle to operate on the light rail line. These modifications included a modernized propulsion control system, automatic train protection equipment and rewiring to change the operating voltage from 600 DC to 750 DC. After completion of these modifications, the FTA conducted a Safety and Security Readiness Review and recommended that Car 85 not be used in regular passenger service intermixed with light rail vehicles. CATS is working with the FTA and Charlotte Trolley, Inc. to develop the criteria in which Car 85 could operate during off-peak and weekend periods. These limited conditions and periods could include special events, excursions and educational settings with additional CATS operational restrictions and supervision.
