It seems that CATS is wanting to continue to spend taxpayer monies to build larger light rail stations, when they have a busway running along the Independence Freeway that goes right by Bojangles Coliseum, Ovens Auditorium and the new Super Wal-Mart on Independence that have no bridges for people to get off. In fact, there is NO bus service to these locations, not even along Independence Blvd. on the other side of the busway.

We want visitors to come in and spend their monies so that we can increase our sales tax revenue, but we don't provide the necessary transportation to let them get off the busway with light rail quality stops.

CATS has stated that it would cost $1.5 million each on average to build the light rail quality stations along the Independence Busway at Pecan Ave., Briar Creek Rd., Eastway Drive (which would be a major cross town route between the University area/UNCC and SouthPark Mall) and Pierson Drive where the new Super Walmart is being built on the Independence Freeway. These light rail quality stops need to be built along Independence before ANY expansion of the light rail facilities that we already have. Currently, bus riders can ride right by Ovens Auditorium, Bojangles Coliseum and the new Super Walmart, but there is no way that anyone can get off the bus. One bus travel tp

And, for the current LYNX Blue Line, there IS an alternative where CATS could run FOUR CARS on each route with the existing stations.

Each two car light rail car would start at I-485 and pick up at every Park and Ride Station. When this train reaches the New Bern Station, anyone who wants to get off the train BEFORE the Convention Center/Third Street station would exit the train. Then, the train from the Park and Ride Lots would continue NONSTOP to the Convention Center Station, stopping at the Convention Center Station, the CTC and Time Warner Arena and the 7th Street Station. This could cut at least 5 or 6 minutes off the travel time for those coming from the Park and Ride lots. It would be considered an EXPRESS Train, just like most other major cities have.

In the meantime, a two car light rail train would be waiting at the light rail facility just before the New Bern station and would leave the side tracks immediately after the Park and Ride train passed. Those passengers who disembarked at the New Bern Station would immediately board the second train and this train would stop at all stations through 7th Street.

Each rush hour train would repeat this process. Afternoon trains would pick up at the EXPRESS Uptown locations and go NONSTOP to the first Park and Ride at Scaleybark. The LOCAL train would follow and stop at all locations along the track.

All major cities have LOCAL and EXPRESS trains. By offering both local and express trains, we could operate four trains at each scheduled time, but NO ADDITIONAL COST to build anything at the light rail stations would be needed.

If we are going to put our transit dollars into building light rail quality stations, we need to build the new stations along the Independence Freeway busway FIRST and help increase our tax revenue base at the businesses that are along Independence.

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