Phoenix opens $1.4 billion light-rail system

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE4BQ1W420081227

Phoenix opens $1.4 billion light-rail system

Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:49pm EST

By David Schwartz

PHOENIX (Reuters) - With a hearty "All Aboard," Phoenix launched a sleek new $1.4 billion light-rail system on Saturday amid uncertainty people will hop out of their cars and onto the train.

About 75 people became the first riders of the 20-mile (32-km) system that snakes through a sprawling desert metropolitan area that includes the cities of Tempe and Mesa.

Planners project building 30 additional miles of light-rail lines by 2025, but it has yet to be determined if the area's love of cars will trump trains.

"The novelty is going to wear off and you'll see whether it catches on or not," said Sam Mazzeo, 50, a mortgage broker who was at a downtown Phoenix light-rail station. "People use mass transit in other cities. You know, gas is not going to stay cheap forever."

…

[IDemo]

1. Though normally I would consider myself a big fan of light rail,

the numbers don't seem to add up here. If you assume that all of the expected 26,000 passengers per day will buy the day pass at $2.50 and do so 365 days per year, you get a yearly total in ticket sales of $23,725,00. Unless they increase rider-ship or fees, it will take 59 years to pay off that 1.4 billion dollar investment.

Perhaps less if you factor in 'carbon credits'?

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. Mass Transit fares don't pay for the system anywhere I know

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/07/22/2008-07-22_riders_paying_more_than_fare_share.html

Riders paying more than fare share

BY PETE DONOHUE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, July 22nd 2008, 11:18 PM

City bus and subway riders pay a bigger share of transit operating expenses than straphangers across the nation, a Daily News review has found.

MTA bus riders pay 40% of NYC Transit division expenses through fares while subway riders cover 72%, federal transit data show.

Riders in other major cities or metropolitan areas like Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco pay significantly less.

MTA officials say comparisons are unfair because riders here have a system unlike any other - with 468 subway stations and 24-hour service.

…

[enid602]

2. Phoenix

Unfortunately, it´s a 1900's-style trolley system, whose cars do not have right of way, and compete with buses and cars. Getting from one end of the 20 mile system to the other will take hours.

[bananas]

3. Interview with lead designer

It's a very short interview, but interesting.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/traffic/lightrail/articles/2008/12/25/20081225lrail-designer1225.html

Light rail provided unique challenges for lead designer
Hot summer climate stoked innovations in trains, colors to reflect sunlight, dry heat
Dec. 25, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

John Swanson, vehicle program manager for Metro light rail, oversaw the design of the light-rail train. Before coming to Phoenix, he developed light-rail vehicles in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. He spoke with Ron Sanzone of The Republic about his first North American design. He talked about how the cars were designed to handle the Valley's extreme heat and the unique challenges of designing trains in America.

Q: What effect did the Valley's climate have on the train's design?

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