Comments on: Charlotte Continues Fight Over Transit Funding http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/12/charlotte-continues-fight-over-transit-funding/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:58:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rick http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/12/charlotte-continues-fight-over-transit-funding/#comment-380 Rick Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:33:00 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=1234#comment-380 Now the shortfall is $269 million. Like I said earlier, CATS is falling behind faster than they can count. <a href="http://obstraffic.blogspot.com/2009/02/cats-sales-tax-tumbles-in-december.html" rel="nofollow">CATS Sales Tax Tumbles in December</a> Now the shortfall is $269 million. Like I said earlier, CATS is falling behind faster than they can count.

CATS Sales Tax Tumbles in December

]]> By: Rick http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/12/charlotte-continues-fight-over-transit-funding/#comment-379 Rick Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:50:25 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=1234#comment-379 Yonah, I'm not so sure about how good the streetcar is for the locals around that line. The proposed streetcar along Beatties Ford Rd is already serviced by the #7 bus route. That route is the most used in the whole system. The street car will not provide faster service or more frequent service as it will be sitting in the same traffic as today's buses. It will not provide extensive development around the stops because most are already built up and there isn't much available land. This is per CATS's own recent study. Any development that does occur will result in gentrification which negatively affects the current residents. This has been the case around some of the current existing LYNX stops. As an example of how rail hurts those that are dependent on buses, the recent budget cuts to save $4 million dollars resulted in $100k being cut from LYNX rail service and most of the rest came from bus service cuts. This was done explicitely by CATS to avoid dipping into the capital fund which primarily supports rail expansion. To say rail always helps the poor simply because it is a form of transit is simply not true. Rail does a lot of things, but helping the poor is not one of them. Yonah, I’m not so sure about how good the streetcar is for the locals around that line. The proposed streetcar along Beatties Ford Rd is already serviced by the #7 bus route. That route is the most used in the whole system. The street car will not provide faster service or more frequent service as it will be sitting in the same traffic as today’s buses. It will not provide extensive development around the stops because most are already built up and there isn’t much available land. This is per CATS’s own recent study. Any development that does occur will result in gentrification which negatively affects the current residents. This has been the case around some of the current existing LYNX stops. As an example of how rail hurts those that are dependent on buses, the recent budget cuts to save $4 million dollars resulted in $100k being cut from LYNX rail service and most of the rest came from bus service cuts. This was done explicitely by CATS to avoid dipping into the capital fund which primarily supports rail expansion. To say rail always helps the poor simply because it is a form of transit is simply not true. Rail does a lot of things, but helping the poor is not one of them.

]]> By: Yonah Freemark http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/12/charlotte-continues-fight-over-transit-funding/#comment-378 Yonah Freemark Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:56:09 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=1234#comment-378 Rick - thanks for the corrections. I would like to point out, however, that though poor minority riders may be dependent on buses, they also benefit greatly from the construction of light rail and streetcars. Better transit helps everyone. Rick – thanks for the corrections.

I would like to point out, however, that though poor minority riders may be dependent on buses, they also benefit greatly from the construction of light rail and streetcars. Better transit helps everyone.

]]> By: Rick http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/12/charlotte-continues-fight-over-transit-funding/#comment-377 Rick Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:13:38 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=1234#comment-377 Correction to a few errors in this post...The shortfall is $252 million over 10 years, not 242 over 15. CATS is losing money faster than they can count. The current half cent tax primarily covers buses - not trains. When the tax was up for repeal, the most viable financial option for the transit system was to stop building trains all together and to focus on buses. Now, those inner cty mostly minority riders who are most dependent on buses are suffering at the expense of building more trains to the mostly white suburbs. Starting in March, 6 bus routes are being cut while the train capital fund goes untouched. Mr Clodfelter is one of those most directly responsible for this situation as he led the charge against using the existing tax for buses only. Also, most Charlotteans do not want an additional transit tax at this time. The county is facing massive budget shortfalls across the board and other taxes will be raised before this is put on the ballot even if it becomes available. And to the last commenter who asks why build a streetcar. You don't understand the race-based politics of Charlotte. The local Black Political Caucus was promised the streetcar if they supported the transit tax during the repeal effort two years ago. This was widely reported in the local papers. Mr Clodfelter's move is nothing more than political payback to attempt to keep that promise. Chicago pay-for-play politics has nothing on Charlotte. Correction to a few errors in this post…The shortfall is $252 million over 10 years, not 242 over 15. CATS is losing money faster than they can count. The current half cent tax primarily covers buses – not trains. When the tax was up for repeal, the most viable financial option for the transit system was to stop building trains all together and to focus on buses. Now, those inner cty mostly minority riders who are most dependent on buses are suffering at the expense of building more trains to the mostly white suburbs. Starting in March, 6 bus routes are being cut while the train capital fund goes untouched. Mr Clodfelter is one of those most directly responsible for this situation as he led the charge against using the existing tax for buses only. Also, most Charlotteans do not want an additional transit tax at this time. The county is facing massive budget shortfalls across the board and other taxes will be raised before this is put on the ballot even if it becomes available. And to the last commenter who asks why build a streetcar. You don’t understand the race-based politics of Charlotte. The local Black Political Caucus was promised the streetcar if they supported the transit tax during the repeal effort two years ago. This was widely reported in the local papers. Mr Clodfelter’s move is nothing more than political payback to attempt to keep that promise. Chicago pay-for-play politics has nothing on Charlotte.

]]> By: Kate http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/12/charlotte-continues-fight-over-transit-funding/#comment-376 Kate Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:32:48 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=1234#comment-376 If you look at a map of Charlotte and it's suburbs this is significant because UNCC is located in the NE. And I'm not sure why he wants a streetcar system through Uptown. It's pretty walkable. If you look at a map of Charlotte and it’s suburbs this is significant because UNCC is located in the NE.

And I’m not sure why he wants a streetcar system through Uptown. It’s pretty walkable.

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