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METRO Light Rail (Phoenix)
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Prototype light rail train on display, November 2005.
METRO Light Rail is a light rail system currently under construction in the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa, Arizona. It is part of the Valley Metro public transit system. The 20-mile starter segment is scheduled to be completed in December 2008. Construction began in March 2005.
Overview
The expected construction cost for the initial 20 miles is $1.4 billion[1]. 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 55mph, and are expected to have an average speed of 25mph during rush hour over the 20 mile route, completing it in approximately 50 minutes.[2] An equivalent section of the Red Line bus route that the rail line replaces takes 80 minutes.[3].
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 [4], 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 railing were discovered. The cause of the cracks was determined to be improper use of plasma cutting torches by contractors.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]
There are 27 stations on the initial twenty-mile starter segment due to open on 27 December 2008. The stations will be designed to complement their immediate surroundings[8]. Station platform areas will be approximately 16 feet wide (4.88 m) by 300 feet long (91.44 m).
Future extensions and improvements
Map of METRO Light Rail system, showing starter line and future expansion corridors.
- The Valley Metro Rail Northwest Extension is one of the first extensions planned. Engineering has already begun on this 4-mile route from Phoenix Spectrum 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.[9]
Proposition 400 was approved in the 2004 elections allowing for possible construction along:
The plan also identifies several "eligible high capacity corridors" (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.[10] The MAG Commuter Rail Strategic Plan was released in March 2008. [11] 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.[12] Commuter rail generally uses upgraded existing freight rail lines, with stations every three to five miles. 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 [13][14] and was first widely promoted in 1991 by the Arizona Rail Passenger Association[15].
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.
See also
External links
References
- ^ www.valleymetro.org
- ^ http://www.valleymetro.org/METRO_light_rail/Downloads/Publications/Fact%20Sheets/FAQs-and-Fast-Facts.pdf
- ^ valleymetro.org Glendale at 19th 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
- ^ Arizona Rail Passenger Association » Phx. Transit Elections
- ^ Light-rail cracks: Who is at fault?
- ^ 30 light-rail sections fixed at cost of $600K
- ^ Light-rail construction: The end is near?
- ^ "Light Rail Station Design". Valley Metro (Phoenix). Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
- ^ Northwest
- ^ "All aboard for centennial", Arizona Republic (2007-02-11). Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
- ^ Creno, Glen (2008-02-29). "Phoenix, AZ: MAG Commuter Rail Study draft released", Arizona Republic. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ Creno, Glen; Matthew Benson (2008-04-08). "$42 billion proposed for state transit plan", Arizona Republic. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ Niner, Verne; William A. Ordway (1980-06-20). "“Hattie B” Commuter Train Helps 1980 Flood Situation". Arizona Rail Passenger Association. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
- ^ "Phoenix commuters loved the Hattie B., now it's time to consider more rail options", Phoenix Business Journal (2005-12-30). Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
- ^ Arizona Rail Passenger Association » Regional Rail
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