Metro Phoenix Transit/Transportation Developments

[combusean]

There's already an LRT study underway that would overlap enough of the red Dobson alternative.

A loop would be awesome and well used however. Southern could use it.

[stutteringpunk]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

Consultants will update Tempe City Council this week on the study of street car extensions into/involving Mesa. These are the corridors they've identified as being worth additional study:


Studying anything other than an extension along Rio Salado to Sloan Park seems like a waste of money to me, but Tempe/Mesa budgeted $600k for the study, and I bet those consultants will use every penny.

I would agree to a certain extent, but I also wouldn't be against eventually having the car making a loop towards Downtown Mesa off that initial extension. In my mind, the main thing public transportation lacks, especially in the east valley, is vertical integration. I understand Scottsdale has repeatedly resisted light rail extension, which plays a huge part, but even just in Tempe you're pretty much SOL if you want to go anywhere north or south of that single rail line.

Ideally, I'd be very happy if the streetcar extended East to Dobson, then South to Apache.

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by combusean

There's already an LRT study underway that would overlap enough of the red Dobson alternative.

A loop would be awesome and well used however. Southern could use it.

Originally Posted by stutteringpunk

I would agree to a certain extent, but I also wouldn't be against eventually having the car making a loop towards Downtown Mesa off that initial extension. In my mind, the main thing public transportation lacks, especially in the east valley, is vertical integration. I understand Scottsdale has repeatedly resisted light rail extension, which plays a huge part, but even just in Tempe you're pretty much SOL if you want to go anywhere north or south of that single rail line.

Ideally, I'd be very happy if the streetcar extended East to Dobson, then South to Apache.

It would definitely be great to tie in MCC somehow. And I completely agree that the vertical integration is lacking. But I still find it hard to see either of Dobson or Country Club having the projected ridership, financial feasibility and potential redevelopment sites to justify the investment. I guess we'll see what the studies say. I suppose I'm just having a hard time envisioning a realistic connection. Maybe like you say at least connecting the loop from Dobson/Rio to Dobson/Apache would be a start.

The other thing that crossed my mind looking at this is that I still don't know if it's close enough to the Phoenix Rising stadium. It would be a missed opportunity to take the street car down Rio Salado but still end up a full mile from the stadium. I wonder if it would be feasible to, at least for a short stretch, run the tracks along the lake so that there was a stop at the lake/McClintock. Then you're only about .5 miles from the stadium, and with a nice pedestrian walkway it wouldn't be too bad getting to the stadium that way. Plus riding the street car along the lake would be pretty cool. Something like this:

[azsunsurfer]

Well there are shuttles that transfer fans from Tempe Marketplace (and even one from downtown Gilbert) that drops them off at the stadium. I've taken it before. I assume that would still be the case for some even using the streetcar at Tempe Marketplace.

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

Well there are shuttles that transfer fans from Tempe Marketplace (and even one from downtown Gilbert) that drops them off at the stadium. I've taken it before. I assume that would still be the case for some even using the streetcar at Tempe Marketplace.

Oh I didn't know. Yeah, that's probably a cheaper/better solution.

[azsunsurfer]

A west Mesa loop makes sense....Mesa Riverview down either Dobson or Alma School to hit Banner, MCC and "Fiesta." I think there is another hospital off Alma School too? People could transfer to the light rail on Main if they need to get downtown

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

A west Mesa loop makes sense....Mesa Riverview down either Dobson or Alma School to hit Banner, MCC and "Fiesta." I think there is another hospital off Alma School too? People could transfer to the light rail on Main if they need to get downtown

You might be thinking of Mesa Lutheran, which closed a while back.

[exit2lef]

Interesting article about a state legislator who uses a wheelchair having to roll home after a late night session due to no buses being scheduled at the time:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news...ks/1224939001/

Not mentioned: Why couldn't she have used Uber, Lyft, or a traditional taxi service? My guess is that the answer may be that those services are not fully ADA compliant, but it seems quite an omission in the story not to clarify that.

One of DiCiccio's staff has opportunistically reacted to this article by tweeting that 24-hours bus service would be a better investment than light rail expansion. That's silly and disingenuous. Bus and rail service have both benefited from the same transit initiatives. They're not competing for funds, and bus service has been expanded tremendously in the four years since Proposition 104 passed. I suspect that the same voices who claim we should spend rail money on buses would be first in line to argue for reduced bus service if they were presented with data showing buses running nearly empty late at night and early in the morning. They'd also be the folks most likely to oppose dedicated lanes that make buses more efficient.

I would love to see 24-hour service on key bus routes as a supplement to light rail. In fact, there are some cities that operate selected bus routes overnight during hours when it is either not cost-effective to run trains or when tracks are closed for maintenance.

[biggus diggus]

It's a pr stunt.

[xymox]

Looks like the governor secured $130M in the new budget for ADOT - in addition to the $190M ADOT had to start the project next year. Initially ADOT was going to start with 1 southbound lane from Black Canyon City to Anthem - now with the additional funding it sounds like the northbound lane will be built at the same time - as well as the reverse lanes up the hill to Sunset Point.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news...an/2616895002/

Glad we could finally get this project going - but also accelerated. Just wish they'd have pushed it and overbuilt it so it will last us the next 20 years of growth...but happy to see it finally able to start.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

Interesting article about a state legislator who uses a wheelchair having to roll home after a late night session due to no buses being scheduled at the time:

Would that mean both regular routes and Dial A Ride service then?


NACTO releases guide to improve intersection designs

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) released a guide, "Don't Give Up at the Intersection," with best practices for modern intersection designs. The design guidelines prioritize safety and improving walking and biking for citizens of all ages and abilities.

In 2017, 43% of urban cyclist fatalities occurred at intersections, NACTO says. It contends that the design of many intersections encourages drivers to make sweeping, fast turns that endanger pedestrians and cyclists. Thus, a large portion of the guidebook is dedicated to improving intersection design for turning vehicles.

While this may seem like common sense to many of us, it's great to see NACTO formalize these updated recommendations.



NACTO

[TakeFive]

Wait... Arizona is rated only 10th best?
Nevada is #1

Best States for Transportation

U.S. News and World Report uses four categories to rate states: Commute Time; Public Transit Usage; Road Quality; Bridge Quality.

[CrestedSaguaro]

Funding has been approved to widen I-17 to 3 lanes from Anthem to Black Canyon City and then add 2 flex lanes from there to Sunset Point. Construction to begin in 2021.

http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/ari...-start-in-2021

[exit2lef]

I wish this Instagram account weren't necessary, but I'm glad someone (don't know who) started it: https://www.instagram.com/whatcrosswalk/

[CrestedSaguaro]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

I wish this Instagram account weren't necessary, but I'm glad someone (don't know who) started it: https://www.instagram.com/whatcrosswalk/

I've had to deal with a lot that you see in those pictures. I usually look at the driver and give a hand motion with both hands aligning the crosswalk. Irritates the heck out of me. Since this has been brought up, how come Phoenix only has a single white line for the crosswalk instead of thicker "Stop" line that most other cities/states have? I wonder if it's such a problem here since there are relativity few stop lines and drivers really don't have a clear spot where they really should be stopping?

[MAPAZ]

The appeal to remove the anti-light rail initiative from Phoenix' August 27 special election ballot was rejected today by the Court.

The battle lines for the future of light rail are now drawn (for the fourth time in 19 years).

ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS - CV 19-0257 EL (June 6, 2019)
(It wont permit me to post the actual link to the pdf, but if you search by case number CV 19-0257 here, you can view the decision)
https://www.azcourts.gov/coa1/Decisi...arch-Decisions

IN THE
ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION ONE

ARIZONA CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL
CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA, et al., Petitioners/Appellants,
v.
CITY OF PHOENIX, et al., Respondents/Appellees.
BUILDING A BETTER PHOENIX, a Political committee,

Real Party in Interest/Appellee.
No. 1 CA-CV 19-0257

[exit2lef]

^Major bummer. The Association of General Contractors has pledged to take this all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court. I wonder if that court will accept the case given that the decision of the three appellate judges was unanimous.

[CrestedSaguaro]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

^Major bummer. The Association of General Contractors has pledged to take this all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court. I wonder if that court will accept the case given that the decision of the three appellate judges was unanimous.

Why do I feel like these judges are anti-rail? SMH

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by RonnieFoos

Why do I feel like these judges are anti-rail? SMH

Ducey is packing the state supreme court with conservatives who may be ideologically opposed to rail transit, but I don't know if that would be felt at the appellate level. I'm going to assume good faith and assume that Building a Better Phoenix, for all the harm it is doing, followed the law in the eyes of the judges. It helps that they had a top-notch elections law specialist as their attorney. I'm still wondering who in this allegedly grassroots movement is paying his bills.

[N830MH]

Originally Posted by MAPAZ

The appeal to remove the anti-light rail initiative from Phoenix' August 27 special election ballot was rejected today by the Court.

The battle lines for the future of light rail are now drawn (for the fourth time in 19 years).

ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS - CV 19-0257 EL (June 6, 2019)
(It wont permit me to post the actual link to the pdf, but if you search by case number CV 19-0257 here, you can view the decision)
https://www.azcourts.gov/coa1/Decisi...arch-Decisions

IN THE
ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION ONE

ARIZONA CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL
CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA, et al., Petitioners/Appellants,
v.
CITY OF PHOENIX, et al., Respondents/Appellees.
BUILDING A BETTER PHOENIX, a Political committee,

Real Party in Interest/Appellee.
No. 1 CA-CV 19-0257

Good! They won't put on a ballots either. I'm so happy to keep light rail for a long time. I appreciate from the judge. We loves Light Rail very much.