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Phoenix Unveils Fancy Light Rail Line, Newbie Transit Riders Too Polite to Squeeze Into Crowded Cars

January 3, 2009 at 2:43 PM | by | Comment (1)

We were in Phoenix for Christmas, and we wondered, as we always do when we travel, if we could ever be happy living there. Having fled the cold and wet New York winter, Arizona's mild weather and breezy lifestyle seemed awfully enticing, but we'd hate to give up the energy and convenience of the city for a suburban, car-dependent existence. We're just so used to taking the subway that the idea of having to drive everywhere seems like a drag.

But as of now, it's possible - if difficult - to live in Phoenix without owning a car. The city just took a big step toward a 21st century public transit system with the opening of its light rail line, and while it's a far cry from the New York City Subway, it's a cheap and convenient way to get around the city without worrying about traffic, gas, or those insidious red light and speeder cameras that keep popping up everywhere.

Transit geeks that we are, we took a ride on the Phoenix Metro on its first day of operation and found it to be quite impressive. The $1.4 billion line stretches twenty miles from northwestern Phoenix to Mesa, and the green-and-white cars are quiet, smooth, and futuristic. Since the train was free during its first few days of operation (normally it costs $1.25 a ride, or $2.50 for an all-day pass) it was packed with riders, many of whom probably haven't taken public transit in years. As regular subway commuters, we found it cute that people were reluctant to press into the crowded cars, opting instead to wait for the next train. That will change.

The light rail is also great news for area boozers, as it passes through the bar-heavy town of Tempe. While the last train leaves at 11:00 p.m., it offers safe, sober transportation to many tipplers who heretofore saw little alternative to getting behind the wheel after having a few too many. If only Charles Barkley had the option of taking the train on New Year's Eve he might not be in such hot water right now.

[Photo: Victor Ozols]

Related Stories:
· Valley Metro Light Rail [Official Site]
· Phoenix Opens $1.4 Billion Light Rail System [Reuters]
· Public Transportation Coverage [Jaunted]

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Return to » Phoenix Unveils Fancy Light Rail Line, Newbie Transit Riders Too Polite to Squeeze Into Crowded Cars


Valley Metro, now with fares

Last night I rode Valley Metro Light Rail (ok we really need to come up with a nice simple name for it, I was hoping it wouldn't be "Metro", as that's so generic.. needs something Arizona-themed.. but I digress) for the first time since the opening weekend. I brought my bike, mainly because it's a 8 minute bike ride to the nearest station. Honestly I was expecting it to be a ghost train at 9pm on a Saturday night, but I was wrong. It was nothing like opening weekend, in that I was able to bring my bike with me AND had personal space, a place to sit, etc.

Not that I've ever taken a city bus, I wish the integration between light rail and the bus was bette, for those who don't want to commute with a bicycle. I'm not sure how to make it work, but a "transfer" system would be excellent. Right now, to get from the airport to say a hotel downtown that isn't quite near light rail, you have to pay $1.25 for the shuttle from the airport to the 44th st light rail, walk across the pedestrian bridge to the light rail station (which by the way was packed with tourists last night when I arrived there on bike), pay $1.25 to get on light rail, get off at whatever station is on the bus line you need to take to the hotel, and pay another $1.25 to get on another bus. I think a cab would be cheaper.

I think only the more city-minded Phoenicians will make use of light rail, for some pretty obvious reasons. Phoenix is a gigantic place, so for millions of people the light rail is not within walking distance. This means people will be driving to the light rail stations to commute to work, and then what if where they work isn't near the starter line? The other issue is that driving is too convenient here. It costs me $2.50 to go round trip to work using light rail, and takes an hour each way (including 20 minutes of cycling to and from stations). Driving my car takes 20 minutes with moderate traffic, never more than 35 minutes. It costs just cents with gas prices today, and of course parking is free at work. Even with gas at $10 a gallon I think it would be cheaper to drive.

Having grown up in Connecticut, I was in New York frequently (in my high school years and when home on break during my college years, at least once a month). Obviously the subway network is developed enough to mean it's within walking distance (however unpleasant that may be during the winter months), and driving/parking in Manhattan is inconvenient enough to make subway the preferred method of transport. While that's awesome, Phoenix won't ever be like that.

In a sprawling metropolis like Phoenix, I'm quite satisfied with the light rail, and I really hope ridership grows enough to justify billions of dollars spent on more lines. Meanwhile I'll be moving once my lease is up to an apartment on light rail (prices have skyrocketed along light rail, even before it was open). While millions in Phoenix wish to keep their suburban subdevelopment life intact, I hope there are enough people like me that want Phoenix to become dense, like any other big city (minus LA).

Last night while riding light rail to work, it did finally occur to me that Phoenix is a real city now. It's a step in the right direction.

kansei on January 4, 2009 at 3:14 PM #Permalink

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