LRT Takes Shape
LRT TAKES SHAPE
Beginning in the City of Manatee, the new Holt District LRT system is beginning to take shape. Its inaugural line is well under construction, with track laid and now station construction beginning to take shape. Although not earth-shatteringly long, this is the beginning of what will eventually become a region-wide, massive transit system. It will get closer to residents than any other type of transit before it in the region, perhaps besides busses of course. We also see the beginning of the transformation of the EL-Rail system in Holt District to the LRT system. A small segment in Manatee will be the start, connecting the new LRT line to the existing EL-Rail system. So let's get moving (pun not intended
) and see what's taking shape where!
24.1 | We start our update on the edge of Manatee, bordering Norecount. While one day the LRT will extend to Norcount (along with the completion of the new 4-lane road) for phase 1 of this first line it ends here.
24.2 | Moving north towards Downtown Manatee we reach this familiar scene. In our last full update, where "X" marks the spot, a station is now under construction. This will open transit to one of the most poorly-accessible areas in the region. This area has often lagged due to poor road infrastructure. Now a new LRT line and large avenue service the area.
24.3 | As we creep ever closer to Downtown, we reach the first major intersection this line encounters. Here we see the line snake to what was the once landscaped median of this avenue, right before a large shopping centre. Due to space constraints the LRT moves to roadtop here. No stations are yet present, but will be soon along this stretch.
24.4 | Traffic is getting used to the lanes being slightly more offset to the edge of the roadway. Although no LRT trains yet run through here, so it should be interesting for the first while as people get used to the LRT running between directions of traffic. A station will likely make its way here. For road-top stations the stations are being trucked in pieces and will be assembled on site. Think flat-pack Ikea furniture. Though the directions will be a bit more clear.
24.5 | The scene many of you are probably waiting for, the area around Shorerock Shopping Centre. This scene is the future station and station+mall parking. All offices and houses formerly on this site have been demolished and the 2 massive parking garages have just started construction. The roadway through the station can be seen as well. The small crane by the track is working on the station platforms itself. We once again see the track curve off the road.
24.6 | The first segment of mall parking lot has been torn up, creating a bit of a confusing maze in the parking lot. Large blue panels keep motorists from going where they shouldn't be. This particular area will eventually be a pedestrian bridge over the road so people can easily get from parking garage to the mall. The area currently torn up will be turned to a walkway with possible landscaping.
24.7 | Looking at the tracks a little more in detail, you will notice they go underground. Because of the busy nature of this road, transit planners decided it would be best to have the LRT go underground while travelling East (left) towards the shore and the eastern EL-Rail Line, which will partially be converted to LRT in this phase. Motorists applaud this decision, and transit riders are happy this connection was cancelled alltogether, which was a potential option.
24.8 | While the LRT still runs underground at this point, it doesn't mean this large office building and surrounding residential community won't be able to access the system easily. Although close to the Shorerock LRT Station, it was decided to have a large station in this area because of the many people who work in the office building, which suffers from a chronic lack of available parking. Since many of the people who work in the building will live along the LRT system at some point in the mid-term future, a station was easily approved. A local architecture student won the design contest help for the street-level design of the station.
24.9 | Further east we once again see where the tracks will come back above ground. The tracks haven't been laid here yet, but you can see where they soon will be. The EL-Rail line in this vicinity will be converted to LRT during this phase of expansion, though not the line's entire length through Manatee. Just enough for the junction and larger, relocated station.
24.10 | For the final picture today you see the site of the future LRT station in the area. It will be replacing the station next to Save-On-Foods. A building was purchased and demolished for a new entrance off the main road. It will be a signalized entrance. The 3 houses abutting the future ground-level line have been offered by the region to have their houses and land purchased. The purchase is conditional on all 3 accepting. The region wishes to install sound walls, and also feels these homeowners won't like a ground level-trail passing directly next to them. So far 1 has accepted, with the other 2 still mulling the offer over...
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