by bryan | Oct 20, 2011 | News & Information, Valley Metro
METRO Ridership Peaks in September Courtesy of Metro Light Rail PHOENIX, AZ — METRO light rail saw record ridership in September 2011 with 1,241,701 total boardings – the highest in the system’s nearly three years of service. Ridership in 2011 is out-pacing records achieved in 2010 by an average of more than four percent. “Our growth in ridership is indicative of quality service,” said METRO CEO Steve Banta. “When you give residents effective mobility choices and connections to life, they will ride. Our focus has and will continue to be on the customer.” METRO also saw its highest ridership day on record with 60,437 riders on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. The ridership spike was achieved by weekday commuters and special events that included home games for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona State University football. METRO averaged 47,818 daily weekday riders in September; 34,520 daily riders on Saturdays; and 19,887 on Sundays. METRO’s 2020 weekday ridership projection of 48,004, developed during project planning, was also nearly reached. About METRO METRO is responsible for the development and operation of the region’s high-capacity transit system. The first 20-mile light rail line opened December 2008 and served 12.6 million riders in 2010, exceeding the prior year by 11 percent. METRO serves an average of 40,000 riders each weekday while also planning for six extensions that will create a 57-mile system by...
by bryan | Oct 15, 2011 | light rail corridor, News & Information, Valley Metro
Phoenix light rail: Private rail security urged Courtesy of Emily Gersema – Sept. 6, 2011 The Arizona Republic [Editors Note: Any large city has security concerns. LightRailConnect.com supports the move to private security.] Mesa and Tempe have a private-security company to monitor Metro light-rail passengers in their areas, but Phoenix has continued to rely on its police force to check on passengers and be on watch for crime at platforms and in the trains. That appears about to change. The Phoenix Citizens Transit Commission last week unanimously approved a proposal for the Police Department to switch to a private-security company to monitor the passengers for the Phoenix stretch of the 19-mile light-rail system. The measure now goes to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability Subcommittee and the City Council, which are expected to approve it later this month. Cmdr. Jeff Alexander of the Phoenix Public Transit Police Bureau told the commission that Metro light rail has a goal that police or security officers inspect around 20 percent of all fares to be sure light-rail passengers are paying and validating their passes. “We have struggled with that,” Alexander said. “We have never been able to attain that goal without having outside resources or using more officers or putting more officers on the train.” Mesa and Tempe rely on G4S, the company formerly known as Wackenhut, to monitor passengers and check fares. G4S security officers are easily recognized by their white shirts with purple sleeve badges and dark pants, and they carry handheld devices that, with a quick swipe, can check a rider’s ticket and determine whether it’s valid. This helps Metro light rail...
by bryan | Oct 15, 2011 | News & Information, Valley Metro
courtesy of Emily Gersema – Sept. 13, 2011 The Arizona Republic [Editors Note: LightRailConnect.com urges every rider to be cautious and don’t run for trains. The next one is only about 10 minutes away.] New brochures and signs on light-rail platforms and inside trains are urging riders not to run for the train in an educational effort by Metro light rail that began last month. Metro light-rail spokeswoman Hillary Foose said the agency launches a safety campaign every year. “While we still continue to talk about driver safety, we felt it was necessary to also think about pedestrian and passenger safety,” Foose said. “The idea behind it was to curb the really dangerous jaywalking.” Posters and brochures say: “Dying to get there? Don’t run for the train. Your life depends on it.” The light rail spans 19 miles across Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, and it is has been in operation since 2008. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, there were two pedestrian-involved incidents, according to Metro. By coincidence, Metro light rail’s safety campaign started last month after a national group, Transportation for America, ranked the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metropolitan area as the eighth-deadliest area for pedestrians out of 52 metropolitan areas in a nine-year period. The group’s report tried to account for all pedestrian deaths involving transportation from 2000 to 2009, but it did not break down incidents according to the type of transportation they involved. Phoenix officials have disagreed with the count, but the report said the Phoenix metro area had a rate of 2.3 deaths per 100,000 people, with 867 pedestrian fatalities in nine years Orlando-Kissimmee in Florida had the highest rate of...
by bryan | Jun 16, 2011 | light rail corridor, Valley Metro
courtesy of Phoenix Business Journal – by Adam Kress Date: Thursday, June 16, 2011 As 100-plus-degree temperatures set in, a solar-powered cooling system is coming to a busy Metro light rail stop in downtown Phoenix. NRG Thermal LLC, a subsidiary of Phoenix-based NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG), will build a system allowing travelers to push a button at the 3rd Street/Washington light rail stop for a hit of cool air. It comes from NRG’s downtown district cooling system, which uses chilled water underground to help cool buildings. Fans at the light rail stop will use solar power to blow the cold air onto riders. The system is scheduled to launch by July 5, before the Major League Baseball All-Star Game events begin. The game is set for July 12, but nearly a week of events leading up to it will bring thousands of tourists to downtown Phoenix. “I was able to experience a similar system during a business trip to Dubai and brought the idea back to Phoenix,” said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. “NRG took the ball and ran with it, investing its money and expertise to make this happen. This solar-powered system will make riding the light rail in Phoenix even cooler.” The system will operate from May through September each year. NRG is covering all costs of the project and maintenance. Access to light rail service and station amenities, including fare vending machines, will not be affected by the construction. The project also will include an educational exhibit showcasing the technology and how it works. NRG owns and operates NRG Energy Center Phoenix, which provides cooling for 34...
by bryan | Jun 4, 2011 | light rail corridor, News & Information, Valley Metro
by Emily Gersema – Jun. 4, 2011 The Arizona Republic The countdown has begun for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game and FanFest events that begin July 8, and Metro light rail is celebrating early. The Valley transportation agency on Friday unveiled the new MLB All-Star advertising wraps that visitors and residents will see on the cars of the light-rail trains during the month leading up to the game and fan events. The All-Star Game is July 12 at Chase Field in Phoenix. The wraps include images of eight past All-Stars, including Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton, who is on the ballot for this season’s All-Star voting and was named All-Star FanFest spokesman earlier this year. The wraps also feature these players with All-Star credentials: New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton and Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. Hillary Foose, a spokeswoman for Metro light rail, said that in all, six light-rail cars will display the wraps. All six will be in service by the end of next week. No public money was used for these promotions, she...
by bryan | May 29, 2011 | light rail corridor, Valley Metro
Emergency scenario plays out on bridge Dianna M. Náñez – May. 24, 2011 The Arizona Republic Amber Anaya considers her light-rail ride to work routine but on Sunday she learned her trip could easily turn dangerous without the proper emergency response. Anaya was one of about 40 Valley residents who volunteered for a Metro light rail emergency drill that left her stranded atop a Tempe Town Lake bridge in a smoke-filled train. The drills are done biannually to meet Federal Transit Authority requirements, but this is the first time Metro re-enacted the emergency outside of the agency’s maintenance yard. The drill gave Metro operators and public safety workers the chance to refine interagency communication as they worked to evacuate passengers from the two-car train and off the bridge. But there were lessons for passengers, too, Anaya said. “It makes you more aware of what’s going on around you,” she said. “I would tell people to . . . follow the instructions given by the operator . . . notice where the emergency-door openers are.” As Anaya’s train stopped on the tracks, smoke fogged the air. Anaya said she instinctively reached for the emergency exit. She pulled the plastic cover off the emergency handle waiting for the door to open. But nothing happened. “I was surprised at how quickly it filled up (with smoke). I couldn’t see and you’re worried about how am I going to get the door open,” she said. “Then, another man pulled the doors open. He just pried it open.” The drill allowed Metro and public safety workers to practice planned aspects of the emergency. But...
