Friday, July 6, 2007

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 85 PERCENT OF LINE COMPLETED: Light rail facility draws tours, questions Charlotte Observer, The - Find Articles

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 85 PERCENT OF LINE COMPLETED: Light rail facility draws tours, questions
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  About 575 people toured the South Boulevard Light Rail Facility on Saturday -- most because they're excited, others because they're skeptical.

  Workers have finished about 85 percent of the South Corridor line, which should open in November, transit chief Ron Tober told the crowd. County commissioners vice chairman Parks Helms said the project serves as a tribute to Charlotte's vision.

  "I have absolutely no doubt," Helms said, "that this will be one of the great moments in the evolution of this all-American city."

  Voters may disagree. They'll decide in November whether to repeal a half-cent sales tax dedicated to mass transit.

  Critics say light rail is too expensive -- the $462.7 million South Corridor line was estimated in 1998 to cost $227 million. And they question how many commuters will choose to ride.

 Larry Bumgarner, part of the Citizens Transit Advisory Group, said it's foolish ...





















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