Transportation Options from the 1950s to the 1990s

Photo: 2/11/57 - Article: 2/12/57. “Traffic Moves at a Rapid Pace on Charlotte’s Streets.” [2] Solving traffic jams by eliminating on-street parking is not an option today.

Photo c. 1960 - 1961 - Related article: 12/11/94. No longer associated with the Seaboard Airline Railway, the depot built in 1898 [3] now houses the Urban Ministries. Its sister depot for Southern Railway [4] was torn down in 1962 because it was an “eyesore.”     

Photo: 1/27/57 - Article: 1/29/57. As a major distribution center of the Southeast and an ideal transfer point for the major airlines, Charlotte’s Douglas Municipal Airport [5] saw a rapid increase in air travel in the 1950s.

Photo: 11/12/73 (Phil Drake) - Article: 11/16/73.  This sultry 70s advertisement for Charlotte’s city buses [6] was compared to the infamous National Airlines “Fly Me” campaign. It was generally declared harmless, though irrelevant to bus riding.    

Photo: 10/13/87 (Wes Bobbitt).- Article: 10/15/87. The “modernized” Trailways Bus Terminal [7] was restored to its original appearance. Located at 414 W. Trade St., it has since been demolished.

Photo: 4/7/95- Article: 4/9/95. Called the Uptown Circuit, the 22-passenger electric minibus [8] began operating in February of 1995. As of June 1996, ridership was about half of what was expected. It was sponsored by a consortium of business and government.

Photo: 9/22/94 (Gary O’Brien) - Article: unknown. In 1994, more than 6,000 containers and trailers per month were loaded and unloaded at the Norfolk and Southern Intermodal Operation [9]. Products ranged from raw rubber to fine clothing for local department stores.

Photo: 9/22/94 (Gary O’Brien) - Related article: 1/11/95 The southern leg of I-485 [10] is part of the 63-mile loop that will circle the outer edges of Mecklenburg County. It will cost $1 billion and should be completed in 2009. This portion is about one-half complete.