Not an appropriate use for light rail

On Saturday, I was out on Interstate 10 west of central Phoenix and I was looking how we can move people efficiently from the exurbs to downtown Phoenix. Right now, the freeway is being widened west of the Loop 101 interchange.

Anyway, on my journey on I-10, I was thinking that the proposals to put light rail as part of the freeway are completely misguided. This is not an appropriate use for light rail. This is an appropriate use for commuter rail.

First, let's look at traffic patterns for those who commute into Phoenix. Almost all seem to travel all the way into downtown Phoenix. Commuter rail stops less frequently than light rail and would serve this task more efficiently.

Second, the stations. One proposal for building light rail calls for building the guideway in the median of the freeway. How are you going to get people from the trains to the stops? And also, why would people want to stop and explore around one of these stations?

Third, precedent. Commuter rail is to light rail as freeways are to urban streets. To build light rail within a freeway doesn't seem to follow precedent nor make sense. The route through Phoenix seems to make sense. Someone in downtown Phoenix might travel north to run an errand on METRO.

So here's my two cents: let's get Phoenix on track to the future. Let's use this as a stepping stone to making Phoenix Union Station a rail hub for Phoenix, the state, and the region. Let's make Phoenix transportation truly multimodal and integrate rail with road.

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Infr-obstruct-ure

On her self-titled show, Rachel Maddow talks about why investment in US infrastructure is so critical now. But apparently it's become rather political and Paul Krugman explains:

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Light Rail Opens: Tempe Town Lake, 26 December 2008

Extra video from Media Day, 26 December 2008:


if you cannot see the video, then stop by my blog to see it!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Light Rail Opens: Pictures from the festivities

To great fanfare, Valley METRO Light Rail opened today after a decade in the making. Here are some highlights from the day's events from the Encanto/Central Ave station:


if you cannot see the slideshow, stop by my blog to see it!


if you cannot see the video, stop by my blog to see it!

With METRO now open, some of the fixed-bus service in Phoenix will change on Monday December 29. The major change is that bus trips that begin within the city of Phoenix before 5am and after 10pm on weekdays will be eliminated. Saturday service will mirror Sunday service.

Since free rides on METRO continue through 2am January 1 2009, I'll see you on the trains!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Light Rail Opens: Bus changes effective Monday 29 December 2008

Back in May 2008, this blog covered the bus changes in city of Phoenix after METRO opens its doors. Seeing how that magical day wherein METRO opens is tomorrow (more later), the bus changes happen on Monday.

The information from that blog entry is still accurate within the city of Phoenix but it didn't cover the rest of the metropolitan area. Some highlights with updated information:

I. RED LINE So METRO Light Rail mainly travels along the route of the Red Line. The Red Line will end but bus service will still operate along where the Red Line once operated. Valley Metro has an excellent map of Red Line Replacement Routes (PDF form).

II. BLUE LINE The Blue Line will be renamed Route 39 (40th Street) and travel along the former Blue Line's route from Central Ave/Camelback Rd up through Paradise Valley Mall and to the Mayo Hospital.

III. BUS SERVICE HOURS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS All weekday bus trips that start within the city of Phoenix before 5am and those starting after 10pm will be eliminated due to budget reductions. Saturday service will be reduced to Sunday levels. Also, the final colored line, the Green Line, will be renamed Route 29 (Thomas Road).

IV. TEMPE TRANSPORTATION CENTER Also opening tomorrow is the new Tempe Transportation Center. Bus routes that serviced College Avenue will be routed instead to the Tempe Transportation Center, at Veterans Way and College Avenue.

For more information, check out the Valley Metro Rider Alerts page on December 29 service changes. Be sure to pick up the new Transit Book (the former Bus Book) that takes effect 29 December 2008.

If you are going to get in on Phoenix's biggest party tomorrow, our good friend Nick Bastian of RailLife.com (your life is on the line!) has some notes of what to expect. Go check out his excellent article here.

All that's left for me to say is: Happy METRO Light Rail Day! I'll be at the Heard Museum tomorrow helping out with the Midtown Museum District Neighborhood Association, but I'll get in the madness and see what's going on. Stop by and say hello! (I'm the tall one with the hat.)

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Happy Last Weekend in Phoenix without METRO!

I know you're all sad that this is the last weekend in Phoenix without METRO Light Rail. I am, too. [end sarcasm]

The thing that is extremely hard to believe is that it seems like yesterday when Central Avenue was still 3 lanes with the fancy bricks running down the center. Or when construction started in front of my house. Or even when we hit the 100-days-to-go plateau. But it's here, and the grand opening celebrations are in ONE WEEK!

I'm probably going to be helping out that day at the Heard Museum (Encanto/Central Ave station) promoting the Midtown Museum District Neighborhood Association. I work with them as a community engagement partner for businesses, residents, and METRO Light Rail. So, if you're going to be riding the rails that day (so to speak), stop by and say hello. (I'm the tall one.)



Cheers-
Edward Jensen

An open letter to METRO's persistent naysayers

Every time I read an article on METRO Light Rail, I am shocked at all the negative (and naive) comments that readers post. I offer this open letter to everyone who is still vehemently opposed to METRO.

I'm not sure if you've noticed, but METRO Light Rail is here and it's slated to open up in 13 days. I know that many of you are opposed to METRO and think that through your persistent complaints on it that it's going to go away and the investment will suddenly make Arizona's budget crisis disappear. I know that $1.6billion is a lot of money, but it was spent when the economy was in fine shape.

First, some history. METRO was originally going to be a project just within the City of Phoenix. When the Transit 2000 bond in Phoenix passed on 14 March 2000, the original route was just over 13 miles long would have been METRO's alignment from Christown (19th Ave/Montebello) to the Airport (44th St/Washington). Through many iterations, the process became a regional effort and METRO Light Rail (as we know it today) was born. The Transit 2000 bond called for a 20-year, 0.4% sales tax (or $0.04 in tax on a $10 purchase) with a federal match of $600million to METRO and $200million to the bus system. That bond passed and we are here today. In 2004, Maricopa County voters approved Proposition 400, allowing for a regional sales tax of 0.5% ($0.05 in tax on a $10 purchase).

Second, the art. Phoenix city ordinance requires that 1% of the capital construction costs of all publicly-financed buildings/projects go to art. For METRO, the artwork goes to the stations. In addition to the architecture of the station, each station has its own identity that individual artists have put into that station. The Heard Museum (Central/Encanto) station, for instance, has artwork inspired by the cultures represented inside the Heard Museum. The Downtown Phoenix/City Hall (1st Ave/Jefferson southbound) has a mosaic of Arizona's own Sandra Day O'Connor because it is near the seat of Phoenix government. You say that the artwork will be defaced. There have been reputable studies by many institutions that artwork at a public gathering point decreases crime because it increases microregional (the area nearby) pride.

Third, the future. I know that the economy isn't all that great now, but nobody projected this back in 2000 when METRO started. For every $1 put into capital improvements like light rail, the return is $3-$4. As a result of METRO, investment in the 20-mile corridor has been significant. When the economy rebounds soon, you watch what will happen along the route. When the price of gasoline goes back to record levels, won't you want to be where you can live, shop, work, and play along the line? Or now: is sitting in traffic congestion to commute from the far exurbs of Phoenix to downtown Phoenix fun? I look at traffic congestion maps of the Valley during rush hours and I see more red than yellow or green. If your commute is 60-90 minutes each day one way, that's 2-3 hours per day stuck in traffic doing nothing and breathing toxic fumes. If you lived and worked along the METRO line, that is an extra 2-3 hours per day with the people you love.

A quick note on crime: you say that light rail and public transportation will bring crime into your neighborhoods. Evaluate that statement. If I was a criminal, I probably wouldn't take public transportation as my getaway vehicle! First, they're not all that fast; second, you would be in close quarters with other people watching what you're doing. This argument makes little sense.

I leave you with this: You say that public transportation is subsidized by taxpayer dollars. This is true; no system is completely self-sufficient. But aren't your roads also subsidized by taxpayer dollars? What return do we get from those? Aren't your schools subsidized by taxpayer dollars? What financial return do we get from those? What about your police and fire departments? Do we get a financial return from those?

I probably cannot speak for you, but I can speak for myself and all of my fellow residents who choose to live the urban lifestyle: we cannot wait for METRO to open up in 13 days.

METRO is reality and it is coming on 27 December 2008.

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

BART and METRO?

Alright, so I thought I'd post a comparison video of a BART trainset departing one of its stations and a METRO trainset departing one of our stations. Note that METRO is slower than BART. BART runs either underground or above ground while METRO runs in the middle of the street.

First up, a video I took of BART departing the Montgomery St Station in downtown San Francisco on 25 July 2007:


Compare this against METRO, departing the Central/Encanto Station on 20 November 2008:


Remember that METRO's still in testing phase. It opens up in 29 days, and it will travel posted speed limits. It's also designed to be at a stoplight when the light is green for automobile traffic, so it's exceptionally efficient.

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

METRO update: Heard Museum sign unveiling

On 20 November 2008, METRO Light Rail, in conjunction with the Heard Museum, held a unveiling of the landmark sign for the Central/Encanto METRO station. Local dignitaries and media were there to cover the event.

Here are some photos and videos to share! If you cannot see the pictures and/or videos, then stop by my blog to see them!

First up, some pictures from the day


Next, a video of Phoenix councilman Tom Simplot's remarks and the actual unveiling
.

Finally, a video of a two-car trainset departing the station heading southbound


37 days to go!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

METRO and ASU intercampus commuting

Before I get too involved with this post, I should mention that there are:

50 days before METRO's grand opening!

A question that I'm asked a lot concerns the schedules of METRO Light Rail when it opens up on 27 December 2008. Will I have enough time to shuttle between classes? Will the Tempe/Downtown Phoenix intercampus shuttle go away?

Here's what I know based on e-mails and contacts to people who are in the know:

METRO LIGHT RAIL SCHEDULES AND FREQUENCIES
At this time, we only know frequencies and not an exact schedule. A telephone call to the METRO Light Rail helpdesk affirmed this statement. Here's what we do know, however:

• It will take about 25 minutes to get from the Downtown Phoenix campus stations (Central or 1st Avenue at Van Buren Street) to Tempe. I'm not sure what is meant by "Tempe", but I would assume Mill Ave/3rd Street.
  
• The frequency of METRO's service is posted at METRO's website here. Given that you'll have to wait (theoretically) at most 10 minutes between 6a-7p and 20 minutes between 5-6a and 7-12midnight, allow yourself 35-40 minutes to get to Tempe.
• Having been on the sprawling Tempe campus, a safe bet would be to allow yourself no less than 45 minutes between classes on the Downtown Phoenix and Tempe campuses. Ideally, give yourself an hour.

Remember that you'll need an ASU bus pass to ride METRO for free.

WHERE DO I BOARD METRO LIGHT RAIL? WHAT'S THE BEST STOP FOR ME AT THE TEMPE CAMPUS?
Good question! Read on:

• On the Downtown Phoenix campus, there are two sets of stops that work. If you're at University Center, Cronkite/Eight, Taylor Place, or NHI, use 1st Avenue/Van Buren Street to head east to the Tempe campus. If you're at the Mercado, use 4th Street/Jefferson Street to head to Tempe.
• Remember, though, when you're arriving back to the Downtown Phoenix campus, for University Center, Cronkite/Eight, Taylor Place, or NHI, disembark METRO at the Central Avenue/Van Buren Street station. For the Mercado, disembark at the 3rd Street/Washington Street station.
  
• On the Tempe campus, there are three stops (from northwest to southeast): Mill Avenue/3rd Street, College Avenue/5th Street, and Rural Road/University Drive.
• All three METRO stops on the Tempe campus are on the north end of that campus. If the FLASH buses don't change their routes, then the best bet to get to the south end of the Tempe campus would be to disembark at the Mill/3rd St station and transfer to a FLASH FORWARD or FLASH BACK bus. (For our purposes, the FLASH University Drive buses wouldn't do much.)

INTERCAMPUS SHUTTLES
I received an e-mail about the shuttles this afternoon. Here's what's happening:

• When METRO Light Rail comes on board 27 December 2008, the Downtown Phoenix/Tempe intercampus shuttles will stop as METRO makes the shuttles redundant.
• The West/Tempe and Polytechnic/Tempe intercampus shuttles will still operate and still terminate at the Tempe campus. It had been mentioned that the West/Tempe would terminate at the 19th Ave/Montebello METRO station and students would transfer to METRO there, but this will not be happening.
  
• New this semester was every third West/Tempe intercampus shuttle making an intermediate stop at the Downtown Phoenix campus. This service will continue.

This list is by no means complete and the information will change as I get more of it. A new Valley Metro Bus Book will be released in a couple weeks' time and we might get a complete METRO Light Rail schedule then.

Until then, all I can say is keep watching!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Isn't she beautiful?

As of tonight, we're 64 days out to METRO's grand opening festivals and things down here are getting exciting. Tonight's the first night where my station, Central/Encanto, has been lit up.

Naturally, this calls for a picture, right?


Isn't she beautiful?

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Remember this?

Remember this? Central Avenue without METRO? This picture (from 11 December 2006) should refresh your memory:



11 December 2006 was 747 days before METRO opens up. We're only 73 days out today, and if only the time could go by faster!

Remember now?

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

75 days to METRO!

Today marks 75 days to the opening of Phoenix's METRO Light Rail! Are you excited?

As part of the grand opening weekend (27-28 December), METRO is planning festivities along the entire 20-mile route.

Anyway, in 75 days, we'll be riding this:


Cheers-
Edward Jensen

100 days to METRO!

METRO opens for operation on 27 December 2008, which just happens to be 100 days from today.

This definitely calls for a celebration. Perhaps we'll see trains again in downtown Phoenix just like we did on Monday?

In the meantime, check out this video from the Arizona Rail Passengers' Association of METRO tests from the Central at Roosevelt station.

if you cannot see the video, click here

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

METRO - stay open past midnight!

The Downtown Voices Coalition is advocating that METRO, Phoenix's new Light Rail, should stay open longer than midnight.

[source: Downtown Voices Coalition latest blog entry] Advocates for a vibrant, 24/7 downtown Phoenix hope to convince the Phoenix City Council to extend light rail closing hours from Midnight to 1 a.m. The Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee will discuss this matter at their Thursday, September 18 meeting at City Hall, 12th Floor, 200 W. Washington St. (start time is 9 a.m.). The public is invited to attend.

To view the full meeting agenda, click here. To read the Downtown Voices Coalition position statement on the matter, click here.

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

And now...

110 days to the opening of METRO!
Clearly this calls for a celebration.

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Where's the METRO safety campaign?

Like a lot of people, I commute to and from the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus on the bus system. I live about a mile north of ASU so this is easy. But something I always see on my incredibly short journey is people jay-walking across Central Avenue - and the new METRO light rail tracks - in front of the Burton Barr Phoenix Central Library. First, this is illegal. Second, this is unsafe.

Something that I believe METRO has not done enough - and even in cooperation with the cities - is to focus on and even enforce safety around light rail. Phoenix and the entire metropolitan area is not used to driving around train tracks. Unlike most major cities, Phoenix doesn't have that much for railroad tracks. It is my fear that - given Phoenix's automobile safety record and how we like to run red traffic lights - there will inevitably be an accident involving someone who thought that they could beat a train through an intersection. Or a pedestrian who walked out on the tracks and didn't see or hear the train coming.

So my question to the METRO people is this: Why haven't you started an aggressive safety campaign in cooperation with the cities? Why aren't we fining people who walk -illegally - across the tracks in all the cities in which METRO operates? Why aren't all the traffic signals at all METRO intersections - namely the left-turn signals - working? If we want a culture of safety around train tracks - which I think we all want - why haven't we started that from the inceptions of this project years ago?

Regardless of your opinions on METRO, it is a reality. It is here. The first trains are out on our streets and it opens up Safety issues are not a reason to oppose light rail.

If you want information on METRO safety, you can go to METRO's website for more: http://www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail/light_rail_safety/.

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Electric automobiles and energy independence

From the US Presidential Election campaign trail: Presumptive Republican nominee for President, John McCain, touts the Chevrolet Volt as the key to energy independence. A couple of problems with the Volt: it still takes gasoline (read: foreign oil) and it isn't the first electric car on the road. Does anyone remember the General Motors EV1? I guess not...

Let's review simple economics. Remember supply and demand? If the price of something is high, then that means there is high demand for something of limited supply. To lower the price of oil (and consequently gasoline), the Republicans in Congress are proposing drilling domestically (read: increasing supply). There's one big problem with that: in our best case hypotheses, it won't help us much. So then, let's try and reduce demand.

Former oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens has the initial sketches of a plan for American energy independence and reducing demand on oil. From my initial readings, it lies in having natural gas for automobiles and wind power generation for domestic electricity. I found a video of Mr. Pickens explaining his plan from a recent Trains for America blog entry:


if you cannot see the video, click here

And one more thing: remember Sen. McCain's gimmick of having a gas tax holiday? The revenue generated from that tax funds the US highway trust fund, which is heading towards a serious crisis because people are driving less (similar to the gimmick).

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

METRO enters Downtown Phoenix, part II

As promised, here are still images from today's historic METRO test in downtown Phoenix.


The images are presented in a Google Pictures slideshow. To see larger versions of these images, click here.

Isn't this exciting?

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

METRO enters Downtown Phoenix, part I

Earlier today, METRO made its grand march into Downtown Phoenix and turned north onto Central Avenue. I'm working on getting the pictures uploaded, but I have a couple of videos that share the exhilaration of the moment:


if you cannot see the video of METRO turning onto Central Avenue, click here


if you cannot see the video of METRO departing the Central/Washington station, click here


if you cannot see the video of METRO departing the Central/Van Buren station, click here

I'm working on a slideshow of the pictures I took. That is to come later today!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen