Metro Phoenix Transit/Transportation Developments

[nickw252]

Public transportation has long had strong support from voters and elected officials in Tempe, but now one of the city’s mayoral candidates wants to at least tap the brakes on a proposed streetcar.

Councilman Mark Mitchell is opposing building the 2.6-mile line in the near future because he said the city can’t afford its $3 million annual operations cost and he doubts the federal government will chip in its share.

“I support public transportation, especially light rail and the streetcar, but we’ve got to be fiscally responsible,” Mitchell said.

His opponents in the 2012 election, restaurateur Michael Monti and former councilwoman Linda Spears, are more supportive.

Tempe is moving toward building a $130 million streetcar on Mill Avenue from Rio Salado Parkway to Southern Avenue to improve downtown access. If approved, construction would begin in 2013 and it would likely open in 2016.

More at East Valley Tribune

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by nickw252

Scottsdale's answer to real public transportation



AZ Central

What's so frustrating about this route is that it overlaps heavily with the 72 bus. Resort guests, at least a few of them, take the trolley; resort workers take the bus. Both modes should be replaced with light rail.

[Evil Empire]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

What's so frustrating about this route is that it overlaps heavily with the 72 bus. Resort guests, at least a few of them, take the trolley; resort workers take the bus. Both modes should be replaced with light rail.

Mixing guests and workers? How socialist of you.

Of course, that's sarcasm but I can see Scottsdale residents saying something like that, unfortunately.

[nickw252]

Light-rail ridership set a new record in October, the second month in a row Metro has reached higher levels. Metro tracked 1,258,711 boardings last month, an 8 percent increase over one year ago.
The record was set during a month of 55 special events within a half-mile of the line, with an estimated attendance of 603,500. October had a large number of conventions, the Arizona Diamondbacks reaching the playoffs and Arizona State University football games.

Metro averaged 45,867 daily weekday riders. The system also set a record for Saturday, with 36,725 daily riders.

EVT

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by nickw252

EVT
Metro averaged 45,867 daily weekday riders. The system also set a record for Saturday, with 36,725 daily riders.

Even though it wasn't a typical month, those are some really strong numbers.

[Leo the Dog]

source: http://www.lvrj.com/news/las-vegas-p...134007828.html

Las Vegas-Phoenix interstate plan moving along


BY STEVEN TETREAULT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Posted: Nov. 16, 2011 | 6:28 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- Plans to upgrade the road between Las Vegas and Phoenix to interstate quality are getting a boost in a highway bill advancing in the U.S. Senate, officials said Wednesday.

A provision in the bill makes the route eligible for federal funding for improvements and new construction, according to the office of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Leaders of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce have lobbied for designation of an Interstate 11 corridor, most recently this fall during their annual visit to Washington.

Las Vegas and Phoenix are the only two large U.S. cities not connected by a major highway.

Boosters say an interstate connector would improve commerce between them and eventually to destinations north and south as the corridor builds out from Mexico to Canada.

"This is the first step and a really important step," said Cara Roberts, senior director of communications for the Las Vegas chamber. "Needless to say we are very happy to see this designation as part of the transportation bill."

Senate officials said an Interstate 11 provision was inserted by Reid into a multi-year surface transportation bill approved Nov. 9 in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The full Senate may take it up in January.

"I have worked for years with a bipartisan coalition including the Republican senators from Arizona and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce to make this interstate a reality," Reid said in a statement.

"As our economy continues to recover, connecting two of the largest cities in the Southwest will help grow our economy, create good paying jobs and boost tourism in our state," he said.

Nevada lawmakers 17 months ago unanimously approved a resolution calling on Congress and the Federal Highway Administration to designate U.S. 93 from the U.S.-Mexico border to Las Vegas and U.S. 95 from Las Vegas to the Canadian border as the future I-11.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephens media.com or 202-783-1760.

[phxSUNSfan]

Really, more freeways? When will people learn?

Replace that multi-billion dollar freeway with high-speed rail lines and increased freight rail lines. Let us stop subsidizing the Walmarts and make them invest a little in their unsustainable supply chain. No doubt, they are the biggest champions of this asphalt nightmare.

[PhxER]

Transit gets $4 million in federal grants

METRO will use its $2.7 million grant to build a solar shade canopy to cover stored light rail vehicles at the Operations and Maintenance Center. The canopy will cover an expanse of 142,000 square feet and provide crucial shading to light rail vehicles while also generating enough electricity to satisfy nearly 100 percent of the maintenance facility’s power needs. METRO will seek private sector support to develop the project.

Valley Metro is being awarded $1.3 million to retrofit as many as 70 buses with an innovative electric engine cooling fan system that is cost effective and lowers pollutant emissions. Energy savings are anticipated with a nine percent reduction in fuel consumption. The original idea for the cooling system is developed from military vehicles and now being applied to transit buses.

Read more here

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by phxSUNSfan

Really, more freeways? When will people learn?

About the time that the cost of gas goes over $5 a gallon on its way to $6.
In this current "depression" crude oil, from a low of $76 per barrel at the end of September, has kicked up over $100 a barrel this week.

We can only imagine what it will do in a good economy?

[nickw252]

Does anyone know if the federal funds that have been earmarked for the Tempe Streetcar and Mesa LR Extension will be in jeopardy if the so called super-committee doesn't reach a debt deal?

[nickw252]

deleted

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by nickw252

Does anyone know if the federal funds that have been earmarked for the Tempe Streetcar and Mesa LR Extension will be in jeopardy if the so called super-committee doesn't reach a debt deal?

The automatic cuts called for don't come into play until 2013, so they may be averted even if the not-so-super committee fails. Even if the super committee comes up with a plan, though, I wouldn't assume federal transit funding is secure. Even though transit projects are an extraordinarily small part of the federal budget, they may be easier and more appealing cuts than virtual untouchables like entitlements and defense. Plus, a lot of the same members of Congress who made the super committee necessary in order to raise the debt ceiling may also see public transport as "socialist."

[exit2lef]

Despite the pessimism in my post above, the Central Mesa extension just took another step forward:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/m...ight-rail.html

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by nickw252

Does anyone know if the federal funds that have been earmarked for the Tempe Streetcar and Mesa LR Extension will be in jeopardy....

Originally Posted by exit2lef

The automatic cuts called for don't come into play until 2013...

Even though transit projects are an extraordinarily small part of the federal budget, they may be easier and more appealing cuts than virtual untouchables like entitlements and defense.

The issue that some Republicans have latched on to is that Transportation funding no longer pays for itself, and hasn't for some time. Because the gas tax hasn't been raised since 1993,
inflation costs and needs now significantly outpace revenue.

But for the umpteenth time the Transportation Bill's expiration has been extended until March of next year. My guess is they again extend it beyond the election, at current funding levels.

While on the one hand it is an easier "target," on the other hand they all come from a state with acute funding needs. Some Republicans, unsurprising, have wanted to specifically cut transit funds,
but transit funding isn't that big a slice and most states want some minimum level of transit dollars as well. Hopefully they just again extend and pretend.

Originally Posted by exit2lef

Despite the pessimism in my post above, the Central Mesa extension just took another step forward:

From the article it sounds like Mesa is working on and anticipates getting a FFGA done next year. The fact that it isn't a large project likely helps their chances. Denver managed to suck $1.5 billion
from the Feds for transit over the last couple of years. Surely a federal share of a $200 million project should be very doable.

[TakeFive]

Though I knew the crowd over at the Phoenix Business Journal would be different from the political crowd at the Arizona Republic, still I was a bit surprised at the results.

The Phoenix Business Journal ran the following poll. http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/poll/results/6746741

Their question was "Has the light rail system been good for the Valley?" and the responses ran two to one favorable.

[HX_Guy]

It's coming along. I still can't see stopping here to get dropped off instead of just driving up to the terminal curbside, but it'll be good for people using public transportation.

[Don B.]

^ It's not that difficult. In fact, to save on Sky Harbor's hideous parking fees, when I fly, I take the light rail to the airport, walk across the street, and then hop on one of the free terminal buses.

--don

[HX_Guy]

I agree it's good vs parking at the airport...I was talking about if you get dropped off by someone at the airport.

[N830MH]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

Despite the pessimism in my post above, the Central Mesa extension just took another step forward:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/m...ight-rail.html

Indeed...Very good news to hear. Let's hope Metro Light Rail will be so successful to start construction sometime in late-2012 or early 2013. You will find out soon enough.

If there is enough $200 millions dollar for Mesa central extension. Metro Light Rail are responsible to pay for the construction.

[HooverDam]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

I agree it's good vs parking at the airport...I was talking about if you get dropped off by someone at the airport.

Once commuter/inter city rail is up and running in the next decade it'll connect to the 44th St Station and provide a good amount of people riding the SkyTrain into Sky Harbor I bet.

I think I said it before, but Sky Harbor should probably start charging a toll to drive through it, thus encouraging people to take the public transit. Nothing big, but $5 would likely be enough to keep excess cars out of the Airport and encourage people to use the SkyTrain.