by bryan | May 22, 2010 | light rail corridor, News & Information, Valley Metro
The Metro Board pushed back planned light rail extensions and will require a new regional tax to be built, according to actions taken this week. These include extensions to towards the Paradise Valley Mall, Glendale, and toward Peoria Avenue in Phoenix. All these extensions will now be funded by the 2004 voter-passed Prop 400 plus state and federal funds. Money from Prop 400 runs out in 2025 and the region does not have the money to fund these and other project that were originally planned. -courtesy of AZ Central, April 22,...
by bryan | May 22, 2010 | light rail corridor, News & Information, Valley Metro
The Metro reported record ridership for the month of April 2010 of over 1.2 million passengers. This surpasses all other reported numbers since the train started operating 17 months ago. The previous month of March 2010 reported a then-record of 1.16 million riders. The Diamondbacks home opener on Monday April 5 now stands as Metro’s daily record-holder, with 55,679 officially measured boardings. Metro also had its first back-to-back 50,000-passenger days, when D’Backs games coincided with an Eagles concert and a Phoenix Suns playoff...
by bryan | May 22, 2010 | light rail corridor, News & Information, Valley Metro
Regional transit planners are mapping out new light rail lines in spots that were inconceivable a few years ago, as they grapple with how urban Arizona takes shape in the coming 50 years. Early studies show that reasonable demand will exist for light rail to succeed on 44th Street, Camelback Road, south Central Avenue, Bell Road and other routes not previously planned, allowing a web to be built that is far more expansive than what is currently envisioned. Officials at the Maricopa Association of Governments, Arizona Department of Transportation and Metro point out these conceptual routes are not intended to replace the voter-approved plan for 57 miles of track. However, early findings show that the Phoenix region has a historic opportunity to rethink light rail’s role – and maybe change some original routes. Pushing the new ideas are changes in national policies, demographic trends and a deepening awareness of the causes and effects of the Great Recession. The federal government plans to ease funding for urban mass-transit projects, and Valley cities are adjusting their plans to cash in. Whatever happens will be decades away, and there is no budget identified to build it. But transit and other leaders say the country is at a pivotal moment that could shape the future of cities like Phoenix. The economy has a way of changing minds -courtesy of the Arizona Republic April 15,...
by bryan | May 22, 2010 | light rail corridor, Valley Metro
The transit board met to discuss a list of cost cutting proposals last Wednesday and voted to cut operating hours which will slightly increase passenger waiting times. The list of cost reductions are planned to cut $1.6 million from the operating budget this year. So, what does this mean to light rail passengers? Shorten peak operating hours; start 7:00 am instead of 6:00 a.m., and end 6:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. Run peak trains every 12 minutes instead of every 10 minutes Add five light schedule days to tie in with holidays, a change from normal operating schedules There are additional administrative cuts in the amount of $2.4 million, which includes pay freezes, reduction on contracted work, and hiring freezes. The approved annual operating budget is $33.2 million for the 20 mile system. After considering choices placed before them, the Metro Board decided not to cut the hours or reduce planned late night weekend train service. The new budget assumes a 200,000 drop in ridership due to the economy the valley is...
by bryan | May 22, 2010 | light rail corridor, News & Information, Real Estate Development
Would you like to attend school somewhere in the Solar System? You can now! The Robert L. Duffy High School (A Career Success School) is under construction near the light rail line in Phoenix, but is out of this world in imagination! The school has announced: ‘Our young people are our FUTURE, we need to prepare them for SUCCESS in their lives.’ ‘RLD High School dedicates to each and every student the best education possible and a high school experience, that is not only meaningful and engaging, but one that offers a career track and transition to the workforce, college or vocational training upon...
