Last in a series.
When Houston opened its first light-rail line three years ago, the train and the city's motorists played bumper cars. There were so many accidents -- 75 in the first year of operation -- that critics called it the "Wam-Bam-Tram."
The Lynx Blue Line that opens this weekend in Charlotte is different than Houston's 7.5-mile train in that most of the track is in its own right-of-way. Houston's train often ran inside a road, in mixed traffic with cars, and was more prone to collisions.
"We don't have cars making left turns in as many locations in front of trains," said CATS chief executive Ron Tober. "That's where most of Houston's accidents took place."
But the Lynx Blue Line does make roughly 20 street crossings, and CATS is worried about accidents.
In the last month, it has launched an aggressive campaign to get this message to drivers: Trains have the right of way. .
CATS has been testing the Lynx Blue Line for weeks, and drivers have already broken at least seven crossing arms.
The light rail is grade-separated along several stretches of the southern part of the 9.6-mile line. The train crosses major roads such as Tyvola, Woodlawn and Arrowood by bridge, which means that train drivers don't have to worry about traffic. Along those stretches, the Lynx Blue Line can reach speeds of up to 55 m.p.h., and acts as a "heavy-rail" train such as those in New York or Washington D.C.
But closer to uptown, almost all of the line is "at grade." The train will go slower, but there are several crossings where motorists should be aware.
Tober is most concerned about southbound traffic on South Boulevard, just north of the Scaleybark station. Rather than intersecting the rail line at a "T," South Boulevard and the light-rail line merge as the rail line enters the median of the road.
CATS is worried about people getting stuck on the tracks while waiting at a red light at Clanton Road. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police this week have been reminding motorists at the intersection that they shouldn't stop on the tracks.
Another concern is people walking on the tracks.
A light-rail train killed a man who was sitting on the tracks Nov. 11 near Pineville Road. Police believe the person committed suicide. YOUR GUIDE TO LIGHT RAIL | Crossings
MORE TRAIN SAFETY TIPS
• When the red lights begin flashing on a crossing signal, cars should stop, even if the arm isn't down. The red lights aren't a warning; they are a requirement to stop. It's also illegal to drive around lowered crossing gates.• Pedestrians and cyclists can only cross the tracks at designated crosswalks.
• Trains come every 7.5 minutes during rush hour. But because trains travel in each direction, trains will be crossing much more frequently.
• It takes a light-rail vehicle 600 feet to stop when going 55 m.p.h. That's the length of two football fields.
TICKET PRICES
One-way: $1.30 One-day pass: $4
Seven-day pass: $13
People 62 years and older, people with disabilities (with transit ID or Medicare card): 65 cents
Students (through high school and with transit ID): 65 cents
Children (12 and under, with transit ID, accompanied by adult): 65 cents
Children (46 inches tall or less or 5 years or younger, accompanied by adult): Free
Riders can get a transit ID at the Charlotte Transportation Center, uptown.
