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 21, 2010 | light rail corridor, Valley Metro, Videos
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by bryan | May 21, 2010 | News & Information, Valley Metro
My first experience on a light rail, with the tracks cutting through city traffic and people waiting under tiny awnings was in the cold, industrial city of Milan, Italy. Although the city has a subway, the light rail was my preferred method of travel, above ground and speedy, the light rail allowed me to hop on and off while still feeling connected to the architecture and the beauty of the city. That was more than 7,000 miles and three pairs of shoes ago, however, when I look at the newly built Phoenix Light Rail, I cannot help but be reminded of that gorgeous city and the amazing public transportation that connected shopping with museums and people with restaurants. It is a welcomed sense of comfort and luxury to step into a quietly humming streetcar filled with air conditioning after trudging through steamy hot Phoenix. Stop after stop more people clamor on while others trickle away, each person coming and going, getting exactly where they need to go. And as I people watch, a symphony of doors opening and closing and feet shuffling and buildings whirring past takes place before my eyes; I am stunned. I have lived in Phoenix my entire life, born and raised, and I have never witnessed our dusty city come alive like this. We are a large, busting at the seams, modern kind of place and yet now, only now after this light rail have we moved into the 21<sup>st</sup> century. I am proud that our city, like so many other great cities, now has reliable, contemporary, public transportation so that we as citizens can...
