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| Thousands of people jam a light-rail station near I-485 Saturday afternoon. ©TODD SUMLIN Charlotte Observer Click for the slideshow from the Observer |
We noted a few weeks ago that Charlotte voters renewed their committment to transit by an overwhelming margin, nixing the attempt by some anti-government types to scuttle a half-cent tax that funds transit in the region.
The tax also funded the construction — and now operation of — the new Lynx Blue light rail line, which opened last weekend. On that weekend, voters and residents cast a vote with their feet, waiting in long lines to board the first Lynx trains and see the 9.6-mile route firsthand. More than 100,000 people showed up for the grand opening, riding free for the first two days.
Ridership over the first two paying weekdays was just below what transit authorities hope to average daily by the end of the first year, quite a good showing consdering that the route doesn’t replace an existing express bus route. The Observer editorialized in favor of the new system, looking down the road towards the impact that today’s wise investments in transit will have for Charlotte’s tomorrow:
That enthusiasm reinforces the public support for public transit expressed in the Nov. 6 election, when 70 percent of county voters rejected repeal of the half-cent sales tax for mass transit.
Blue skies made Saturday’s long waits tolerable, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be dark days ahead. Critics will see virtually empty cars at some hours and complain about wasting money, as many now complain about the bus system. But light rail wasn’t built for today. It’s part of a development plan that envisions residential and commercial growth near the rail line that will provide more and more riders in the future.