NewsLanc has heard favorable comments about the Charlotte, N.C. streetcar system. To find out more, it interviewed Ron Tober, Executive Director of Charleston Street Trolley, Inc. and learned the following:
In Charlotte, street cars will run in their own right-of-way, not in city streets.
They share rails with a high speed transit system, so they only operate week days between commuter peak hours plus all day and evenings on week ends.
The route is approximately 2 miles, similar to Lancaster’s proposal.
Although the original cost estimate was $20 million (the same as for Lancaster), it ended up costing $40 million.
They operate one rebuilt vintage trolley and three replicas.
The fare is $1.30.
The regional transit system (similar to Red Rose) operates the street cars.
Trolley operations are subsidized as part of the overall transit system subsidies.
They are very popular with tourists.
