Red Line opponents offer driverless cars, new buses as alternatives

CORNELIUS, N.C.,None — A Cornelius commissioner said leaders should abandon the Red Line railroad project and move onto other solutions for relieving traffic congestion in northern Mecklenburg County.

The Red Line, the proposed commuter rail line from Charlotte to Mooresville, has come under fire lately. Several local leaders, including Iredell County commissioners and well-known transit experts, have cast doubt on the plans, mainly because of financial concerns.

Dave Gilroy, a Cornelius commissioner, said leaders should focus more on a couple of concepts mentioned earlier this week when a well-known rail critic came to town, blasted the Red Line plans, and offered alternatives to relieving congestion.

One idea makes use of driverless cars.

They have been developed and tested by Google in California. Using video cameras, artificial intelligence, and a variety of sensors, the car drives on its own.

Gilroy said driverless cars are the wave of the future and can triple of the capacity of congested roads here.

"There's a science behind how we drive and with humans behind the wheel and reflex and reactions we simply have stop and go that wouldn't exist if we were all computer-controlled,” Gilroy said.

Martin Nordenstam wasn't so keen on the driverless car idea.

"Do what we can today and keep the rest of the stuff on the back burner," he said.

Gilroy agreed, saying driverless cars are worth researching, but the focus first should be on more realistic projects, like widening I-77 and adding HOV lanes, two ideas that have been widely discussed already.

Another alternative that has not been talked about much is buying a new fleet of buses.

Unlike the ones run by CATS now, the new buses would be privately run and offer high-end features such as leather seats, Wi-Fi access, electrical outlets and even food.

The schedules and routes would change to meet user demand, too.

Gilroy said the plan for a new fleet would be less expensive than the Red Line.

"In orders of magnitude, it's cheaper than the rail line," he said.

John Woods, the chairman of the Red Line Task Force, said it is too soon to pull the plug on the project and think about other options. Woods said the task force is in the midst of a three-month review in which members are looking at every issue and concern raised regarding the Red Line.

They expect to have a final consensus plan in April.

Cindie Howard, a Davidson resident, said she is hoping the Red Line will still work. She thinks it is crucial when it comes to luring people and businesses to move to the area.

"What they need is a rail system like all big metropolises have," Howard said.

Other commissioners in Cornelius said it is likely that alternatives to the rail line, such as the bus fleet and driverless cars, will be discussed at town board meetings in the next few months.

WSOC