Phoenix rail: Next steps

Newer readers to this blog might wonder why the parenthetical "WBIYB" is always inserted after the first reference to Phoenix light rail. It stands for: We Built It, You Bastards. A reminder of the hysterical, ignorant and too often thuggish opposition to a transportation technology that had proved successful around the country. I received death threats and demands that I be fired for columnizing in favor of light rail at the Arizona Republic. Well, you bastards, we built it and it is a big success, aside from the distortions that suppress transit-oriented development. Such a big success that Mesa (!) is building the line deeper into the city — and you can thank former Mayor Keno Hawker for having the foresight to persuade his colleagues to help fund one mile into the city; otherwise, Mesa would have been cut off from a system it now embraces.

It's a tough slog. The Legislature and governor are hostile to anything but freeways. The great crash slowed funding from Prop. 400 to a trickle, and even then most of it was going to build transportation infrastructure appropriate to the 1960s rather than today, including the misbegotten Loop 303 and South Mountain Freeway. While these will enrich a few connected developers, they are engines of sprawl, congestion, pollution and expansion of the heat island. Most Phoenicians can't imagine a lifestyle that doesn't revolve around long single-occupancy car trips.

Even so, the 20-mile starter line is expanding not only into downtown Mesa but also toward Metrocenter mall. An ambitious new line is being prepared to run west from downtown to a park-and-ride at 79th Avenue and Interstate 10. The West Line/Capitol Line is widely misunderstood in the media, but it would be an important step to creating a much more robust light-rail system.

Contrary to what you might have read or heard, this new line is not going "to Tolleson" Is this part of the media's desperate attempt to "Valley"-ize everything rather than using the enchanting name Phoenix? Or is it just simple ignorance of geography? In fact, the line will never leave the city of Phoenix, whose taxpayers have invested more than $800 million in light rail.

The key to the Capitol Line is the state capitol. The state office complexes are a mother lode of employment, so getting light rail to 19th and Van Buren is critical to expanding the service to the next level. Beyond that, the St. Matthews district west of the capitol is a solid transit neighborhood. From there, a quick ride to the Desert Sky Mall area of west Phoenix (with a park-and-ride at the future intersection of I-10 and South Mountain Freeway, plus a couple of neighborhood stops in between) will attract more riders with a commuter-type ride that is on its own right of way in the 1-10 corridor. This will be the most versatile light-rail extension yet, promising commuter trips from 10 miles out of the city center as well as linking closer in neighborhoods and the capitol employment center to Phoenix/Tempe/Mesa on the original line. This starts creating a genuine light-rail system with crossing lines branching out from the single long mega-line we have now. Eventually, the concept is to have one line from Desert Sky to Mesa and another from Metrocenter to South Mountain.

Unfortunately, the Capitol Line won't really serve Maryvale, either. This is another media-fed misconception. Federal funding comes to prospective lines that can guarantee high ridership (this is why the starter line, running on the same route as the over-capacity red-line bus, was guaranteed to be a hit). The Capitol Line can meet this criteria. Unfortunately, Maryvale was laid out as a classic 1950s automobile suburb. It lacks density and an urban core. That said, Maryvale, with its large population of working poor, desperately needs light rail and more frequent bus service to feed it. A line along Indian School to 75th Avenue would be ideal.

Beyond this, metro Phoenix needs to branch out from an over-reliance on light rail. Commuter rail centered at Union Station and served by a streetcar and buses could best provide service to Gilbert, Chandler, Goodyear, Buckeye, Glendale, Peoria, Sun City and Surprise. These are fast "heavy rail" trains with few stops. On the West Coast alone, San Diego, LA, the Bay Area and Seattle have commuter-rail systems as well as light rail. So does Dallas-Fort Worth (Dallas has one of the biggest light-rail systems in the country). And, of course, commuter rail is ubiquitous in the Northeast.

Phoenix also needs intercity rail. Had the state been willing to make a modest investment in the 1990s on the former Southern Pacific northern main line, Amtrak would still serve Phoenix rather than running through Maricopa. This would have preserved passenger rail to Tucson and points east, as well as to Los Angeles (the city was served by four trains a day in each direction as late as the 1960s). Now the investment will be considerably more, but it is needed more than ever. Amtrak keeps breaking ridership records. Phoenix and Tucson need several trains connecting them each day, as the popular Cascades Corridor connects Eugene, Ore., Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. in the Northwest.

Rail options are needed for many reasons: Climate change, road congestion, the environmental costs of cars, the productivity lost stuck in traffic, central Arizona being highly urbanized, an overburdened airline system and changing tastes — more people want the choice not to drive. It will require state support, as well as that of at least a big part of the congressional delegation. Somehow Texas pulls this off, and gets huge federal transportation grants, while still being redder than thou. I know, I know...good luck with all that.

But all across the country, passenger rail development is accelerating (check out The City Desk). Dallas just opened two more light-rail lines. Fort Worth is moving on a commuter system. St. Paul opened its lovingly restored Union Station as a multi-modal hub. Denver is undertaking a massive restoration and expansion of its Union Station for Amtrak, light rail and commuter rail. LA is doing amazing things. All this leaves Phoenix at a further competitive disadvantage that sunshine won't make up for.

 

Comments

[cal Lash]

Warren Buffet probably would agree with you. He is buying railroads.
I was at the Portland last night and watched the rail cars whiz by with fairly good occupancy. The restaurant was filled with beautiful people dressed in fine suits from the New York cutting tables. They chattered and drank martinis with delicate sips.
My friend was concerned that management would ask us to leave since our Levis and T-shirts seemed out of place. I assured her since it was Arizona and we had money, we were OK as we ate our Tommy and Alfredo Burgers.

Environmentally I agree with light rail.And for Phoenix it could mean the city can achieve that Mega city many, including Michael Crow, dream about. But Phoenix larger than 200,000 folks is a nightmare, to me.

I awakened early from a dream, (to post this entry) where I was in my 14" trailer camped out in Organ Pipe, watching the Coatimundi and quail stroll by. And feeding an occasional straggling illegal immigrant headed to the mega city and the American dream busing tables in restaurants serving the likes of the kookocracy.

[cal Lash]

AZreb, R we still on for fan club meet at Urban Bean Saturday?
11 AM or 2 PM ???

[cal Lash]

Jon, your posting time is off by an hour?

[AzRebel]

11am

[cal Lash]

Reb 11 AM it is.
I invited Hayduke and his pals petro, the eclectic perro

[morecleanair]

Jon: does the Phoenix-Tucson passenger rail line stand a chance? If so, who/what will drive such an initiative?

(Off-topic but sorta relevant: my U of Iowa alumni magazine just ran a climate change denial piece written by a member from Tucson. It was a feature, not just a letter.)

[cal Lash]

god is in charge in Iowa
thats why i left

[morecleanair]

cal: I'm still chuckling about your 14" trailer. Gives rise to some tasteless jokes.

[Emil Pulsifer]

Side note: a review of Dark December appears in the previous thread. Two more reviews to appear.

[cal Lash]

morecleanair I am not related to John Holmes.

[phxSUNSfan]

Morecleanair, ADOT is actually leading the charge for intercity commuter rail between Phoenix and Tucson. A link with a video on the subject, a survey, and more information:

http://www.azdot.gov/passengerrail/AddingYourVoice1.asp

Rail funding, mainly by Phoenix, reminds me of the city's new plan to temporarily tax hospitals in order to acquire matching federal funds for AHCCCS. Since the state won't do it, the city has to step in and get it done. The Phoenix Access to Care Ordinance is backed by the healthcare industry and hospital executives. This should be a statewide concern but it is left to the city again.

[cal Lash]

phxsunfan i was just going to post , where are you, and here u r. Good to hear from you. As usual the dinasours at the state capitol never lead except to make it more difficult for the poor and disadvantaged. I am very suspect of why ADOT is "PUSHING"

[phxSUNSfan]

Around the Holidays I get really busy with family and friends. And it is "cold" and rainy in Phoenix so you have to be out enjoying the "holiday" feel of it all.

I suspect ADOT is pushing for more rail because they are tired of repaving and adding thousands of miles of pavement only to have more congestion, negating any "upgrades". Besides, some federal funding is at stake for adding rail transit.

[Sanjeev]

I'm currently designing a light rail corridor that runs along Grand Ave (not on the railroad tracks) from Downtown Phoenix to Downtown Glendale as an alternative to both the I-10 west light rail ("Phoenix West") and a western light rail spur from 19th Ave.

I'll also be designing another corridor that uses Bus Rapid Transit (fixed guideway) along I-10 from the Hance Deck Park Tunnel to Avondale near Loop 101 & I-10 and an eastern extension from the Tunnel to Papago Park.

I'll share my designs when I'm finally finished with this self-proposed project.

[cal Lash]

Phxsunfan: glad you R enjoying "The Holidays". The rain will give us great clouds and breathable air for a few days before we have to put the face masks back on.

Given ADOT's history and Southwest political connections and its middle management controllers I suspect its about construction funding that will benefit their people and not because its the "right" thing to do.

[Rogue Columnist]

Morecleanair,

There is little hope for Phoenix-Tucson passenger rail without leadership from the governor and support in the legislature. A supporting congressional delegation is also useful.

The Union Pacific will initially just say, "no." This is why you need senators and representatives who will take them aside and say, "You want (this goodie) from the federal government? Then play well with others in my state." The old Southern Pacific (bought by UP) ran more passenger and freight trains on the line between Phoenix and Tucson than it does today.

However, the state must be willing to help the railroad expand its siding, signalling, positive train control, etc. And, again, the delegation must be willing to push for federal grants. This is how very successful passenger rail has been built in Southern California, the Bay Area/Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley, and the Pacific Northwest.

This is nothing exotic. It's standard and proved, and the best practices are available to be studies. Indeed, two new Talgo trainsets are ready for purchase, having been turned down by Wisconsin's switch to a predictably anti-rail GOP. And Milwaukee-Chicago already has plentiful passenger service. Arizona is just behind (again).

But ADOT is as meaningless as MAG. And mayors alone can't do the heavy lifting.

[Due Rancor]

An APS billboard featuring wind turbines and solar arrays! Does there exist a more impudent band of thieves?

[jmav]

It is difficult to envision Arizona Senator Flake and the state's congressional delegation petitioning the federal government for transportation grants. Flake as House Representative built his brand on budget cutting at any societal cost.

Texas and Arizona are of course fellow travelers in a backward looking approach to governance. The distinction being that Texans are commercially pragmatic and bring home the federal bacon. Arizona is run by out of state right-wing ideologues who place their ideology above the economic development of Arizona.

[homeless]

The two trains in Milwaukee mentioned by Rogue were part of an $800 million federal transportation grant that the the newly elected Republican Scott Walker returned to the US Treasury. Pathetic!

After easy election of blue warrior Senator Baldwin and re-election of Obama in the Badger State, Walker will have difficulty in his 2014 re-election bid because he won't benefit from the gerrymandering that inordinately protects Republicans against the state's Democratic urban voting bloc.

The Middle Western Republican influence brought into Arizona has more of a Missouri or Kansas right-wing flavor to it than that found in the region's north. Whereas in Minnesota or Wisconsin Republicans generally are motivated by reduction in taxes, Kansans and Missourians hold strong ideological beliefs against government services altogether. The Kansas City area is the redneck epicenter of the country. Really worse than Texas. This influence is predominant in present day Arizona.

[phxSUNSfan]

homeless, I take you have never been to Arkansas or Alabama...

I would argue that Arizona's influence has been from Republican regions of Ohio. In Ohio you have conservatives that don't mind some diversity but have issues with poorer minorities (in Ohio that has caused white flight to the burbs, in Arizona is causes SB 1070). Ohio repubs want government to cut spending and hate taxes; however, they want their medicare, social security and military spending left untouched. And Arpaio was able to squeeze out one last victory (only 50.7% of the vote) this time and much of his contributions (the "war chest" as he calls it) come from out of state...I suspect Ohio as being one of those states.

[cal Lash]

The above mention of the insipid but yet rabid mindset of current politicians will require
"a point where our old models must be discarded and a new reality rules."
Vinge.

[cal Lash]

an angry note. RE: The murder of small school children and teachers.I am not surprised when nut jobs like Reverend Huckabee talk about "evil" visited today. That kind of chatter was all over world news.And now I am getting the evil word from "friends."

One friend (he does not believe in mental illness) told me, that since I was an Agnostic I was not capable of understanding how gods plan to take little kids lives is all part of the bigger picture?

My response to him:

OH, the killer was Satan? The lesser god that fell out of favor with the big god?

So Satan is so sick he decided today was a good day to kill little kids?

I suppose that "It was all part of Gods plan for us"and those little kids needed to leave for a better deal?

So far we have been told the killer was a "mentally ill Gothic alleged genius." In my opinion that has a lot of similarity (leave out the genius part)to organized religion and its nut cases like Huckabee; one sick MF that wanted to be president. (thanks to his gods plan he lost.)

I said to my friend, Well friend, according my Mayan buddies in a few days you should drink some James Jones koolaid as the space ship is about to lift off.

[Emil Pulsifer]

Side note: If you ever wondered how Muslim guerrilla fighters in third-world countries manage to defeat lavishly funded superpower armies (e.g., against the Soviets/Russians in Afghanistan and Chechnya, the Israelis in Southern Lebanon, etc.), with application to the two U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade, read my review/assessment of "Tactics of the Crescent Moon" in the book thread -- then read the book!

[Emil Pulsifer]

The link to the Holiday Books thread with the review:

http://roguecolumnist.typepad.com/rogue_columnist/2012/12/holiday-books.html

[Oregon Fishing]

Light Rail has been a solid infrastructure investment. Currently moves over 1 million riders per month of which that ridership number has been steadily climbing. The project promotes subsequent investment along the rail in neighborhoods that are already established. The Loop 202 extension is proposed at $1.9 Billion...a number higher than the original 20 mile Light Rail route.