General Phoenix Metro Discussion Thread

[PHX31]

Originally Posted by CrestedSaguaro

The time a train takes approaching a station and then the time spent at the station boarding passengers should be enough time to complete the traffic light cycles. Yet a lot of trips I have been on, the LTR stops immediately upon leaving a station. This happens quite frequently and should be more than avoidable. We're talking a good full minute for the lights to complete cycling.

What if the train stopped at the station already near the end of the cycle, so it was then at the beginning of the next cycle once it was ready to depart and had to wait at the red light? Or what if someone entering or exiting the train as the doors were closing messed it up for everyone and if they weren't there the train would have made it's green opening. Like I said there are a lot of variables.

Everything (vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) has a minimum time for green that is set or needed per cycle. The time for pedestrians is the easiest to understand. I'd imagine the priority of the trains is such that if it approaches a signalized intersection it automatically forces all other phases to their minimum times (and gets the train a green faster). Is there another system that is better out there? Maybe. I don't know what they've looked in to or have funding for etc. But I'm certain the LRT has some kind of priority.

[MiEncanto]

Originally Posted by PHX31

I would bet anything they do have priority of some sort. Is it the best it could be? Probably not. Regardless, it's not that basic, there are tons of variables.

What is frustrating is Valley Metro has told me THEY DO HAVE TRAFFIC LIGHT PRIORITY. Which is infuriating because we've all seen them SIT AT RED LIGHTS.

I hardly ever use LR because it is anything but light. But I would have zero issue with it getting priority over me (and this would impact me directly).

They also claim they go as fast as is safe and practical, which seems nonsense. 35mph is not fast enough for me. I realize that by going 50 they may have a few extra accidents but that's worth it to me. IT'S TOO SLOW.

At $100m per mile, LR is such a frustrating investment. We could have Bus Rapid Transit going from every neighborhood in the country to a zillion worksites 2-4x per day at the cost we spend on LR. I obviously have not done the math but buses are cheap and LR is not.

And don't get me started on ending it at MetroCenter and what an impending disaster that will become. CoP is going to have install a new precint. I don't believe in that project and don't see it coming to fruition as designed.

[PHX31]

Originally Posted by MiEncanto

What is frustrating is Valley Metro has told me THEY DO HAVE TRAFFIC LIGHT PRIORITY. Which is infuriating because we've all seen them SIT AT RED LIGHTS.

Yeah, again, Priority =/= never stopping at red lights.

[CrestedSaguaro]

Originally Posted by MiEncanto

And don't get me started on ending it at MetroCenter and what an impending disaster that will become. CoP is going to have install a new precint. I don't believe in that project and don't see it coming to fruition as designed.

A while back. I found and posted a future LTR map which showed the NM extension going well beyond Metrocenter. I can't remember where I got it from and don't have time to look for it right now (it's on here somewhere). I asked if anyone knew about it I and didn't get any replies. I don't know how realistic extending rail from Metrocenter would be. But one thing I've learned is LTR projects here tend to get changed from time-to-time. I have no doubt that it has been considered or will be considered to extend from Metrocenter.

[xymox]

Originally Posted by CrestedSaguaro

A while back. I found and posted a future LTR map which showed the NM extension going well beyond Metrocenter. I can't remember where I got it from and don't have time to look for it right now (it's on here somewhere). I asked if anyone knew about it I and didn't get any replies. I don't know how realistic extending rail from Metrocenter would be. But one thing I've learned is LTR projects here tend to get changed from time-to-time. I have no doubt that it has been considered or will be considered to extend from Metrocenter.

Was it the ASU West extension?

[exit2lef]

I've seen maps, both official and unofficial, that have shown an eventual extension to ASU West. If that were to happen, it would have to involve demolishing the current MetroCenter building and maintaining a clear path through whatever replaces it for the train. Currently, the elevated track is dead-ending near the Dillard's space. Regardless, I think it's a long way in the future, especially with Governor Ducey's veto of the Proposition 400 extension vote.

[CrestedSaguaro]

Found my post. We should probably continue this discussion under the Transit thread.

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9762792&postcount=8252

[Obadno]

The light rail is too long as is, if we really want to start linking in far off suburban areas it should be through commuter rail.

Light rail is supposed to be for relatively local trips not 30- and 40-mile cross metro journeys.

[CrestedSaguaro]

Originally Posted by Obadno

The light rail is too long as is, if we really want to start linking in far off suburban areas it should be through commuter rail.

Light rail is supposed to be for relatively local trips not 30- and 40-mile cross metro journeys.

Not many ride the full length from end-to-end (although I have done it just for the hell of it). The vast majority of light rail riders use it for short trips and getting to work. For comparison, Dallas has a much longer system. The Orange Line itself line is 37 miles long with 29 stops and it functions quite decently for it's length.

[TJPHXskyscraperfan]

Originally Posted by CrestedSaguaro

Not many ride the full length from end-to-end (although I have done it just for the hell of it). The vast majority of light rail riders use it for short trips and getting to work. For comparison, Dallas has a much longer system. The Orange Line itself line is 37 miles long with 29 stops and it functions quite decently for it's length.

And they have many more bridges for the trains in Dallas. It 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 that light rail didn’t think of having at least a few bridges at major intersections. It seems light rail does have priority but it doesn’t mean it won’t ever stop at a light, just looking outside my window, it’s pretty rare the train gets stopped at the light I live at.

[Warren Peace]

Originally Posted by MiEncanto

What is frustrating is Valley Metro has told me THEY DO HAVE TRAFFIC LIGHT PRIORITY. Which is infuriating because we've all seen them SIT AT RED LIGHTS.

I hardly ever use LR because it is anything but light.

I hardly ever use it because it's a 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 finding a kiosk that works for credit card payments. One day I tried starting with the station across from Cityscape on Central. One kiosk was marked as out of service and the other would not accept my cc. So I walked to the next station north of there at Van Buren and Central. One was jammed with someone else's plastic card and the other would not read my card.

I walked across the park to the southbound station and found that the one working kiosk would only offer a one way pass - not a 2 way or all-day. WTF? Doesn't it print on the same piece of paper? Why could it not accept more of my money to print a ticket for a roundtrip?

The limitation to only a one-way fare is something I experienced when returning from the airport one day - I figured I would also take the rail later in the day, but the airport location of the kiosk limited me to one-way only. How is this possible?

I would estimate that 80% of the time I try to use the kiosk to buy a fare, it doesn't work. I almost always have to try walking to another.

I try to be cashless as much as possible, so I don't want to have to use an ATM to feed cash into a kiosk - an act that invites beggars to guilt me into enabling their lifestyle by handing over more of my cash to them. I'm looking forward to the use of mobile apps this year. It blows my mind that these kiosk readers ae not as reliable as ATMs.

[ASU Diablo]

Originally Posted by Warren Peace

I hardly ever use it because it's a 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 finding a kiosk that works for credit card payments. One day I tried starting with the station across from Cityscape on Central. One kiosk was marked as out of service and the other would not accept my cc. So I walked to the next station north of there at Van Buren and Central. One was jammed with someone else's plastic card and the other would not read my card.

I walked across the park to the southbound station and found that the one working kiosk would only offer a one way pass - not a 2 way or all-day. WTF? Doesn't it print on the same piece of paper? Why could it not accept more of my money to print a ticket for a roundtrip?

The limitation to only a one-way fare is something I experienced when returning from the airport one day - I figured I would also take the rail later in the day, but the airport location of the kiosk limited me to one-way only. How is this possible?

I would estimate that 80% of the time I try to use the kiosk to buy a fare, it doesn't work. I almost always have to try walking to another.

I try to be cashless as much as possible, so I don't want to have to use an ATM to feed cash into a kiosk - an act that invites beggars to guilt me into enabling their lifestyle by handing over more of my cash to them. I'm looking forward to the use of mobile apps this year. It blows my mind that these kiosk readers ae not as reliable as ATMs.

I'm in the VM pilot program for mobile passes. Hopefully rolls out soon to the general public.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by Warren Peace

I hardly ever use it because it's a 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 finding a kiosk that works for credit card payments. One day I tried starting with the station across from Cityscape on Central. One kiosk was marked as out of service and the other would not accept my cc. So I walked to the next station north of there at Van Buren and Central. One was jammed with someone else's plastic card and the other would not read my card.

I walked across the park to the southbound station and found that the one working kiosk would only offer a one way pass - not a 2 way or all-day. WTF? Doesn't it print on the same piece of paper? Why could it not accept more of my money to print a ticket for a roundtrip?

The limitation to only a one-way fare is something I experienced when returning from the airport one day - I figured I would also take the rail later in the day, but the airport location of the kiosk limited me to one-way only. How is this possible?

I would estimate that 80% of the time I try to use the kiosk to buy a fare, it doesn't work. I almost always have to try walking to another.

I try to be cashless as much as possible, so I don't want to have to use an ATM to feed cash into a kiosk - an act that invites beggars to guilt me into enabling their lifestyle by handing over more of my cash to them. I'm looking forward to the use of mobile apps this year. It blows my mind that these kiosk readers ae not as reliable as ATMs.

It's disgraceful how Valley Metro has let the current machines fall into disrepair pending the launch of its new system. That said, the security personnel are aware of the situation and are generally forgiving if you tell them that you tried to buy a ticket but couldn't.

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by ASU Diablo

I'm in the VM pilot program for mobile passes. Hopefully rolls out soon to the general public.

Nice, I was wondering the other day if anyone here was in the pilot program. How has the system worked in your experience?

[ASU Diablo]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

Nice, I was wondering the other day if anyone here was in the pilot program. How has the system worked in your experience?

Pretty straight forward. You can buy all the different types of passes right on your phone, pay with Apple Pay, and then u just simply scan the QR code at the LR station.

Much easier (and faster) than the current way...

[CrestedSaguaro]

Originally Posted by ASU Diablo

I'm in the VM pilot program for mobile passes. Hopefully rolls out soon to the general public.

Sweet, me too. I did the pilot time as well as well. Hopefully this works out really well.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by ASU Diablo

Pretty straight forward. You can buy all the different types of passes right on your phone, pay with Apple Pay, and then u just simply scan the QR code at the LR station.

Much easier (and faster) than the current way...

Originally Posted by CrestedSaguaro

Sweet, me too. I did the pilot time as well as well. Hopefully this works out really well.

What would be even better is a system like OMNY in New York where train turnstiles and bus fareboxes can collect money via contactless payments from a phone or watch. There's no need to purchase a ticket and show a QR code. Just tap and ride. During a recent visit to NYC, I was dutifully buying Metrocards, a technology that's being phased out, until I realized it could just pass my wrist over the turnstile and board the subway.

I read somewhere that Valley Metro can't do that right now because Apple is no longer working directly with transit agencies and focusing on fare systems vendors instead. Until Valley Metro's vendor supports contactless express payments, that convenience won't be available here. Keep in mind that I read this on reddit, so I have no idea if the information is accurate.

[ChelseaFC]

Originally Posted by xymox

I wonder how long before this development spills over into Yavapai County - Black Canyon City and Yarnell/Peeple's Valley. Both are 'reasonable' commutes to TSMC and should provide more reasonably priced housing...

What does everyone think of the Anthem area? We're looking there as well as the Desert Hills area near Carefree Highway. If this area is only going to grow, it seems like it would be a good value and would be wise to hop on now?

[xymox]

Originally Posted by ChelseaFC

What does everyone think of the Anthem area? We're looking there as well as the Desert Hills area near Carefree Highway. If this area is only going to grow, it seems like it would be a good value and would be wise to hop on now?

The issue with Anthem is water. You're going to pay a LOT more for water in Anthem than you would in the city of Phoenix itself. Also - some of the earlier homes in the area had foundation/settling issues (to the point where windows were breaking overnight). Probably most of those have been dealt with by now - but just be aware.

Otherwise, its a great area - slightly higher elevation than most of the valley, a bit cooler/wetter (gets 11 inches of rain vs 7 downtown) - and the best benefit - a bigger head start north on I-17 in the summer (and winters) to get out of town for the weekend. Prescott is about an hour away.

I'd avoid Desert Hills unless you want to live in an area that's nearly 100% un-governed. Some nice places there - but your neighbors can easily mess it up for you and you will have little recourse.

[PHX31]

Originally Posted by ChelseaFC

What does everyone think of the Anthem area? We're looking there as well as the Desert Hills area near Carefree Highway. If this area is only going to grow, it seems like it would be a good value and would be wise to hop on now?

That entire area is going to grow immensely. And it's going to be on hyperdrive because of TSMC.

I'd be interested in your expectations and "wants" of moving to the area.

I think that entire area is very beautiful (unfortunately has been marred by all of the development - Anthem the prime example, but growth is just inevitable). Even the master planned type communities are nice being so hilly, etc (tract homes and sprawl aren't always preferred, but that's the way it is). And as someone said, the area is higher in elevation and slightly cooler and wetter than down in the City.