Echo Hills Neighborhood Assoc.

Independence transit plans

Transit plans

Rail? Bus? Neither for now
Transit officials to wait 5 years to decide
RICHARD RUBIN
rrubin@charlotteobserver.com
Mary Schulken | Don't keep us in the dark
9/26: Council criticizes staff on rail project
Transit officials preserved the hope of a light-rail line along Independence Boulevard on Wednesday by delaying any final decision about the corridor's future for five more years.

The Metropolitan Transit Commission voted 8-1 for a compromise that will set aside land for a future rail line or a busway between uptown and Matthews.

The commission said it prefers the busway. But postponing the final choice could ease pro-rail political pressure from east Charlotte.

The compromise will cost $46 million: $26.5 million to buy property along Independence as the state converts the next section of the road to an expressway and an additional $19.5 million to buy uptown property that is necessary only for the light-rail option.

Pineville Mayor George Fowler cast the lone no vote.

Wednesday's decision on Independence comes as transit officials try to map the future of the countywide system of trains, streetcars and busways. Even as the first line -- light rail along South Boulevard -- experiences millions of dollars in cost overruns and a political backlash, MTC members are pressing forward with their long-term vision.

Big projects always face challenges, said Parks Helms, who chairs the MTC and the Mecklenburg County commissioners.

"You simply cannot let that keep you from continuing to plan ahead and develop your strategies for going forward," he said.

The MTC's decision to put off any transit construction on Independence until at least 2011 leaves just one corridor capable of getting significant federal money as the south corridor did. That's the $600 million light-rail line to University City, which can meet cost-effectiveness thresholds set by the federal government.

The reason: a boost in projected ridership since CATS re-routed the line through the UNC Charlotte campus, at the behest of new Chancellor Phil Dubois.

"We feel very good about its prospects," said Ron Tober, CEO of the Charlotte Area Transit System.

But that doesn't guarantee the University City line will be next, Tober said. Other corridors could get built with relatively little federal money and potentially more reliance on the local half-cent sales tax for transit.

Next month, Tober will propose a schedule for building the University City corridor and the remaining lines: a center-city streetcar, commuter rail to Iredell County, the Independence line and a streetcar along Wilkinson Boulevard.

CATS officials are still refining their financial projections and comparing the corridors against each other.

The MTC has already labeled the Wilkinson line as a long-term plan and Wednesday's vote sealed the short-term fate of Independence, narrowing the competition for what comes next.

The north corridor has low ridership projections of just 4,000 people per day in 2030. But it does have several advantages. Three of the nine MTC members -- the mayors of Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville -- represent towns along the line. And, said Cornelius Mayor Gary Knox, the $250 million north line carries the least risk and the most potential to spur future growth around stations.

Wednesday's compromise on Independence came after the MTC rejected picking light rail by a 6-3 vote. Representatives from Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville all voted for rail.

"The cost is more, but I think the return for Charlotte and Matthews in the long run will be greater for (rail)," said Ralph Messera, Matthews' public works director, who was voting in place of absent Mayor Lee Myers.

Tober recommended the busway, which is cheaper ($331 million vs. $585 million) than light rail and would carry more riders, according to CATS. The busway was a very strong potential candidate for federal money, while a rail line would have struggled to compete against projects across the country, transit officials said.

But east Charlotte advocates challenged those arguments and contended that only light rail could revitalize their community.

"I bring you something fragile, a rose petal. It's called hope," City Council member Nancy Carter told the MTC Wednesday. "I stand here in raw need."

South Corridor Budget Update

CATS officials finished two days of meetings with the Federal Transit Administration as they try to agree on a new cost estimate for the over-budget light-rail line along South Boulevard, scheduled to open in late 2007. CEO Ron Tober said he hopes to have federal approval on a number in time for Monday's City Council meeting.