Monday, March 10, 2008

This is surprising

The parking deck at the I-485/South Boulevard station was completely full last Thursday. I checked it out late that morning, and I couldn't find an open space - though there was room in the small surface lot adjacent to the garage.

When the Lynx Blue Line first opened, there were about 300 cars in the deck, which has 1,120 spaces. It was a pretty empty place, especially on the second floor, which is the least convenient place to park. There were some spaces deep in the corners that I thought might never see a car.

I checked out the lot again today. I'd say there were about 50 or 60 open spaces in the entire deck.

Some of the more northern stations are still tumbleweed park-and-rides - Archdale usually only as 30 cars - but the I-485 and Sharon Road West stations are pretty much at capacity. Will CATS shift money around to create more parking? CATS has room at I-485 for a second deck.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I rode the Lynx for the first time this weekend. I don't think they thought it out very well. They put the stations too close together uptown (the convention center and the terminal are ridiculously close), and did not extend the line far enough south. Not building turnstiles, putting too few ticketing machines, using the honor system and allowing people to walk across the tracks are obvious mistakes.

Anonymous said...

A couple of things on Lynx...I agree w/ the previous poster - the uptown stations are too close together, but you couldn't NOT put one at both the convention center and Transit Center. Too many people are going to either the arena or the convention center at alternating times. Speaking of the parking, the Scaleybark lot,while nowhere near full, has increased it's parkers tri-fold since opening. It speaks volume to the success of light rail.

Anonymous said...

where are all you repeal the tax losers now? still in momma's basement most likely.

gas going through the roof, thousands moving here every month, and you fools wanted us to repeal the tax to fund the train.

and for the final time, we built and are going to build the transit system for the future. wait five or ten years to complain. maybe then you guys will have found a girl and moved out of the folks house.

Anonymous said...

I don't think the 485 station is a surprise at all. You've got all the folks commuting from Union county to uptown - Lynx saves a big hassle plus a lot of money on parking. It provides the most value.

I've taken it a couple times (I live about 10-15 minutes east of the line) on weekends. My initial thoughts are that we could have eliminated a couple of stations to speed it up and maybe extend it across 485 to improve the commutability value of the rail. Just my $.02.

Anonymous said...

8:38: Pineville said no to light rail, so the line couldn't go any further south.

And 11:53: Grow up, idiot.

Anonymous said...

THe uptown stations are pretty close, but as another posted said, you have to have a stop at the convention center and at the arena. It is inconvienent when you are going through those stops... but very convienent if going to one of the stops.

I love the light rail. We take it as much as possible. Saves gas, parking, and allows us to have a few drinks when we are out...

Anonymous said...

The Light rail needs to look at sending a line down INDEPENDENCE from Monroe/ Matthews this would help or course the HUNTERSVILLE line would help and the other lines and the OUTERBELT done ; HELP US GOD WE NEED EVERYTHING here;

Anonymous said...

I was hoping we could tear up old tracks and put a smooth road in for GOLF CARTS to downtown ; No noise , no pollution and mini cars mean little space needed for parking; Much like the SHINERS drive at the CLOWN CIRCUS the one that backfires;

Anonymous said...

wait until the CASINO downtown gets underway the traffic will really pick up.

Anonymous said...

To the guy who writes every other word in caps: I wish you would condense all your posts into one single post instead of multiple ones that take up the whole message board. It's kind of annoying.

Anonymous said...

To the GUY ; I love it how do you know I might be a women ; HAHHAHAHAa Anyway the Light rail needs to go farther out down towards Matthews and maybe the Old rail system that passes through Matthews could be the next Light rail station; The land downtown is to valuable to be parking space and we need the Headquarters in here; Sad to say I hope there are restrooms at every station and not like Washington D.C. where you could have an accident. Sad to say we are all afraid on criminals in restrooms so we should place a police personel in the Station ; If someone commits acrime in a station the penalty is picking up trash and cleaning all the restrooms in there. Thats how you stop crime from People who loiter all day.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone looked down where they stand and see all the litter around Steels Creek area and all over; Look at all the cigarette butts all over the streets.Many Years ago my wife and I noticed how clean the Charlotte area used to be until Pigs arrived. People this does'nt help create a positive image for the City; We expect name brand Headquarters to plant here but we piggy up the streets with trash. Look take contact your Congressperson if you have a beef but dont piggy up my view.

Anonymous said...

I wish they could ban that guy who posts random words like cities and names in caps. He posts that junk on every blog I've ever read from the observer. Does he have a job? Why is he posting meaningless blabber every day, numerous times, in every post?

Anonymous said...

We should all start posting RANDOM words in all caps. It's shows solidarity with the homeless.

The I-485/South Blvd deck is full of South Carolina license plates. Maybe they spend the occasional 1/2 cent on the purchases they make in NC so they're not entirely leaching off of NC. Just taking jobs and using our left lanes.

Anonymous said...

Good point blogger, South Carolina is working jobs over here and not paying nothing to the infrastructure ; Bill James wanted to impose a payroll tax on anyone not living in North Carolina . This is a great idea and Hispam=nics that are not legal dont have to pay either; Problem with this scenerio who's paying taxes; If someone from South Carolina doesnt purchase something , no tax paid; If a Mexican goes back to Mexico before the year is up they pay no tax either. How can you build your infrastructure this way?

Anonymous said...

Shouldnt the Federal Governmnet dole out the 520 million from Social Security fund ghost account and help States who use immigrants the most; The Social Security has millions from ghost accounts that just earn interest while we pay the load for People not paying their fair share; We educate, house and pay People from other Countries without a supplement for the Fed's.

Anonymous said...

I like Immigrants coming here but if you dont have a SS number your not really in the system and it doesnt help your State; Im with Judge Orr and think the STATES should sue the Federal Government into helping out with Schools, Roads and other goodies.Pay up or we succeed.

Anonymous said...

The SC comments are hilarious. I'm from SC and use the train. I used to live in CLT and moved away to find better schools for my child. When I lived in CLT my taxes helped pay for light rail, so don't I have a right to use it? Also, NC taxes my paycheck the same as it does for anyone working in NC. Be glad that people are using light rail and that taxes are not being increased to further support it. Lastly, the 485 station does need a second deck or larger surface lot. A few less stops would also be nice, but not probable.

Anonymous said...

The SC comments are hilarious! I live in SC, work in NC and pay the higher NC income taxes as well. I do not get to take advantage of things such as in-state tuition although I pay my taxes. So I am "contributing to the infastructure", can you at least let me ride the light rail???