METRO Light Rail (Phoenix)

Infobox rail line
name = METRO Light Rail


image_width =
caption =
type = Light rail
system = METRO Light Rail
locale = Phoenix-Tempe-Mesa, Arizona
start = Christown Spectrum Mall
end = Main Street at Sycamore
stations =
routes =
ridership =
open = December 26, 2008
close =
owner = Valley Metro (Phoenix)
operator = Valley Metro
character =
stock = Kinki Sharyo
linelength = convert|20|mi|km|abbr=on
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge = RailGauge|sg (standard gauge)
el = Overhead catenary|

public transit system. The convert|20|mi|km|sing=on starter segment is scheduled to be completed in December 2008. Construction began in March 2005.

Overview

The expected construction cost for the initial convert|20|mi|km is $1.4 billion [ [http://www.valleymetro.org/METRO_light_rail/Downloads/Publications/Fact%20Sheets/FAQs-and-Fast-Facts.pdf www.valleymetro.org] ] . Trains will operate on city streets in a "center reservation," similar to the Red Line of the METRO light rail system in Houston and the surface sections of the Green Line in Boston. Some parts of the line, such as near State Route 202, are long stretches which have no contact with vehicle traffic. The vehicles used will be rated for a maximum speed of convert|55|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on, and are expected to have an average speed of convert|25|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on during rush hour over the convert|20|mi|km|sing=on route, completing it in approximately 50 minutes. [ [http://www.valleymetro.org/METRO_light_rail/Downloads/Publications/Fact%20Sheets/FAQs-and-Fast-Facts.pdf Valley Metro | Welcome ] ] An equivalent section of the Red Line bus route that the rail line replaces takes 80 minutes. [ [http://www.valleymetro.org/bus/Bus_Routes_Jan_28_Framed/R.html valleymetro.org] Glendale at19th Ave is near the Christown Spectrum Mall, the rail's starting point and Main at Dobson is very close to Sycamore. Bus schedule allots 1 hour 20 minutes travel at rush hour] .

History

Various plans preceded the current implementation of light rail. The Phoenix Street Railway provided streetcar service from 1887 to 1948. Historic vehicles may be seen at the Arizona Street Railway Museum. In 1989, the ValTrans elevated rail proposal [ [http://www.azrail.org/trains/transit/transit-elections/ Arizona Rail Passenger Association » Phx. Transit Elections ] ] , was turned down by voters in a referendum due to cost and feasibility concerns. Other subsequent initiatives during the 1990s failed over similar reasons.

METRO was created by the Transit 2000 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), which involved a 0.4 per cent sales tax and was approved by voters in Phoenix in 2000. Transit 2000 aimed at improving the local bus service and the formation of bus rapid transit and light rail, among other things, which was seen as a more affordable approach. It used the route placing and color designations from the 1989 plan.

In March 2008, cracks in the system's rails were discovered. The cause of the cracks was determined to be improper use of plasma cutting torches by contractors. [ [http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0314railcracks0315.html Light-rail cracks: Who is at fault? ] ] The affected track was repaired by May at a cost of $600,000 with still no word on which parties will be held financially responsible. [ [http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/16/20080516phxrail0517.html 30 light-rail sections fixed at cost of $600K ] ] The last of the concrete and rail for the system was installed in the end of April, with CEO declaring the system to be on time and on budget. [ [http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2008/04/29/20080429lightrail0430-CP.html Light-rail construction: The end is near? ] ]

There are 27 stations on the initial twenty-mile (32 km) starter segment due to open on 27 December 2008. The stations will be designed to complement their immediate surroundings [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Light Rail Station Design
work =
publisher = Valley Metro (Phoenix)
date =
url = http://www.valleymetro.org/METRO_light_rail/How_to_Ride/Stations/index.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-02-20] . Station platform areas will be approximately convert|16|ft|m wide by convert|300|ft|m long.

Future extensions and improvements

*The Valley Metro Rail "Northwest Extension" is one of the first extensions planned. Engineering has already begun on this convert|4|mi|km|sing=on route from Christown Spectrum Mall (Formerly called Christown Mall) station to Metrocenter Mall. Utility relocation, right-of-way acquisition, and construction will be from Spring 2009-2011. The project should be ready by late 2012. [ [http://www.valleymetro.org/METRO_light_rail/Future_Extensions/Northwest/index.htm Northwest ] ]

Proposition 400 was approved in the 2004 elections allowing for possible construction along:
* West to Glendale from the current terminus at Montebello,
* West from Central Station to the Arizona State Capitol complex, then north, and then west and adjacent to Interstate 10 and the communities of Avondale and Tolleson,
* North along SR 51 to Paradise Valley Mall in northeast Phoenix,
* South from the Tempe campus of Arizona State University to southern Tempe,
* East from the Mesa terminus, and
* North to Scottsdale, running along Scottsdale Road past the new ASU "Skysong" Center, a high-tech research area.

The plan also identifies several "eligible high capacity corridors" ( [http://www.mag.maricopa.gov/detail.cms?item=5836 Figure 8-4] ) for added service within a few decades:
* North on Tatum Blvd. past Paradise Valley Mall,
* West to suburbs such as Goodyear and Buckeye,
* North on I-17 to the Anthem community,
* Northwest along Grand Avenue in Phoenix to the West Valley cities of Glendale, Youngtown, El Mirage, and Surprise,
* Southeast to Gilbert, Chandler, Ahwatukee, and southern Phoenix proper, using a separate new rail line starting in downtown Phoenix, and
* North on Scottsdale Road as mentioned above.

The above projects all have completion dates ranging from the 2010s to 2020s, since studies and consultations must take place well before construction. Future increasing cost, especially in relation to right-of-way acquisition where land values are rising, is another issue.

Commuter rail

The Maricopa Association of Governments and the Arizona Department of Transportation are studying suburban commuter rail as a complement to light rail. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=All aboard for centennial | date=2007-02-11 | publisher= | url =http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0211sun1-11.html | work =Arizona Republic | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-20 | language = ] The [http://www.mag.maricopa.gov/event.cms?item=8489 MAG Commuter Rail Strategic Plan] was released in March 2008. [cite news | first= Glen| last= Creno| coauthors= | title=Phoenix, AZ: MAG Commuter Rail Study draft released | date=2008-02-29 | publisher= | url =http://www.trainnet.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=141&forum=DCForumID24 | work =Arizona Republic | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-09 | language = ] In April 2008, a coalition of Arizona business and political leaders, including Governor Janet Napolitano, proposed a $42 billion state transit plan which would include commuter rail. [cite news | first= Glen| last= Creno| coauthors= Matthew Benson| title=$42 billion proposed for state transit plan | date=2008-04-08 | publisher= | url =http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2008/04/08/20080408transit0408.html | work =Arizona Republic | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-09 | language = ] Commuter rail generally uses upgraded existing freight rail lines, with stations every three to five miles (8 km). In Phoenix, as in other areas that have implemented commuter rail, track speeds would be increased, signals updated, and additional sidings and double-track added. Proposals for constructing entirely new rail rights-of-way in the middle of urban highways have largely been eliminated due to their expense and their location far beyond walking distance from downtowns and activity centers.

Contemporary discussion of commuter rail in Phoenix began with the "Hattie B." flood relief train of 1980 [cite web
last = Niner
first = Verne
authorlink =
coauthors = William A. Ordway
title = “Hattie B” Commuter Train Helps 1980 Flood Situation | work =
publisher = Arizona Rail Passenger Association
date = 1980-06-20
url = http://www.azrail.org/1980/195/
accessdate = 2008-02-20] [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Phoenix commuters loved the Hattie B., now it's time to consider more rail options | date=2005-12-30 | publisher= | url =http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/01/02/editorial2.html | work =Phoenix Business Journal | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-20 | language = ] and was first widely promoted in 1991 by the Arizona Rail Passenger Association [ [http://www.azrail.org/trains/regional/ Arizona Rail Passenger Association » Regional Rail ] ] .

Daily rail service had existed until the 1960s between Phoenix, Glendale, and Wickenburg as well as Tempe and Mesa. A single short commuter rail line was also part of the ValTrans proposal.

ee also

*Sky Harbor Airport Automated People Mover

External links

* [http://www.valleymetro.org/METRO_light_rail/ METRO Light Rail official website]
* [http://www.RailLife.com/map/Light-Rail-Map.aspx Interactive (Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa) Light Rail Map]
* [http://www.RailLife.com (Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa) Light Rail News and Information]
* [http://www.articlemyriad.com/29.htm Article on Valley Metro Rail and preemptive urban revitalization]
* [http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0211sun1-11.html Article on commuter rail (Phoenix area) and regional rail (Phoenix-Tucson) proposals]
* [http://www.azcentral.com/commphotos/azcentral/6732/1/103 Slideshow of photos on light rail construction and progress -- from azcentral.com]

References