4:58 PM Wed, Jun 04, 2008 | Permalink
Melissa Wheeler
E-mail
|
 | Melissa Martin
WCNC Reporter
|
I got back on board the light rail today, the first time since CATS launched the LYNX Blue Line in November of last year.
As I pulled into the parking deck at the I-485/South Boulevard stop I could see a major difference in ridership. Six months ago the second and third levels were practically empty. This time, I had a tough time finding a spot, and sure enough by 8:25 the lot was full. I met one man, who like many people, parked at the shopping center across the street and hoofed it to work. I hope he doesn't get a ticket!
My photographer and I talked to over a dozen people, some who have been riding for months, for others, it was only their first or second time -- the reasons were pretty consistent. They like the convenience, avoiding the cost of parking uptown, and the one everyone agreed on -- gas prices.
Whether you supported or opposed the highly controversial project, you can't blame the riders for opting to by a $2.60 round trip ticket, versus a gas guzzling trip to work. "So how much are you saving?" I asked over and over. I heard $75 a month, $50 a month, $100 a month. We're not talking chump change. One passenger (a Bank of America employee) said he had done an analysis and discovered he saved $150 a month between the cost of gas and parking. For him it was a no-brainer. Not to mention, someone else gets to battle the morning commute while you sit back and relax.
Sure, there are still kinks to work out. We had problems getting change from a ticket machines, and the lack of parking is a problem at the stations farthest south. But 13,000 people on average are riding everyday -- 4,000 more than CATS officials expected.
As I fill my gas tank with $80 of what might as well be liquid gold, I wish the light rail was an option for my commute. Unless it expands west, I guess I'll have to keep driving my gas guzzler to work.
Melissa,
The light rail is excellent. Even though my wife and I don't commute to Charlotte for our jobs, we use it to venture uptown on the weekends and couldn't be more happier with the convenience.
It's too bad there isn't any way possible to make a bona-fide, all-out project happen NOW that would extend rail lines out to all corners of Mecklenburg County. Perhaps if Mayor Pat does become governor he can set things in motion.