Will there ever be a north-south light rail path excluding downtown? (Scottsdale: school, live in)

[shiphead]

This image is the typical LA traffic scene. In fear of getting into an accident I did not take a picture, but the 101 during rush hour from Tempe to Chandler is this picture. Average speed is 20mph and sometimes a complete stop. No accidents or anything going on. Being that I've seen new housing development signs and fencing going around empty lots in the east valley the problem is only going to get worse. How many more cars does there need to be before we have a North South route?

I've seen the same thing with the I-17. There is one of those commuter buses from north phoenix down the I-17 to downtown. But both commuter buses that ride the I-10 and I-17 are packed.

Expansion isn't possible for these freeways, so what's left? On-ramp reduction? Any talk outside government about this problem?

[observer53]

I don't know that the 1-10 and I-17 commuter buses are "packed"... if they were, they'd add more trips. They run quite a few trips on the RAPID routes as it is. I'm not sure what you mean by "both" commuter buses. There are multiple routes on the 10, and the one route on the 17.

That said, I don't think there are any plans even on the drawing board to run light rail north-south anywhere in the east valley. "Talk outside government" doesn't much matter, for issues like this.

[CodyW]

The only other north-south route planned is supposed to run up the 51 toward Paradise Valley Mall. And that's a decade or two away from even being started.

[WSPHXPELON]

I don't know if it was "North-South" or not, but Scottsdale was offered a line and they turned it down.

[wit-nit]

Future plans for travel in the Valley by the year 2050. (More likely 2150 the way the government works)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...efreeways.html

[BuckeyeBoyDJ]

Ehhh I'll doubt it. By the time it does and if it happens we'll have flying cars and no one will even care about the light rail.

[vince3vince]

Originally Posted by WSPHXPELON

I don't know if it was "North-South" or not, but Scottsdale was offered a line and they turned it down.

I think a rail in Scottsdale would be a terrible idea. Sure it sounds great and would be convenient, but the city is already developed very nicely and it is just unnecessary- it would feel like an after thought. Scottsdale rd north of camelback is just way to prime and already beautiful to put a rail line on- PV residents would never allow it. What else is there, Hayden? But that has McCormick ranch, another huge obstacle. The only way I could see a rail/commuter train through scottsdale is if it was above ground and along the 101 and headed to some commuter train stop in downtown phx.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by vince3vince

I think a rail in Scottsdale would be a terrible idea. Sure it sounds great and would be convenient, but the city is already developed very nicely and it is just unnecessary- it would feel like an after thought. Scottsdale rd north of camelback is just way to prime and already beautiful to put a rail line on- PV residents would never allow it. What else is there, Hayden? But that has McCormick ranch, another huge obstacle. The only way I could see a rail/commuter train through scottsdale is if it was above ground and along the 101 and headed to some commuter train stop in downtown phx.

I agree with the feasibility of it, or lack thereof, but I would love to see it. I would love to be able to have dinner in Old Town without worrying about driving after a couple cocktails.

[WSPHXPELON]

Originally Posted by vince3vince

I think a rail in Scottsdale would be a terrible idea. Sure it sounds great and would be convenient, but the city is already developed very nicely and it is just unnecessary- it would feel like an after thought. Scottsdale rd north of camelback is just way to prime and already beautiful to put a rail line on- PV residents would never allow it. What else is there, Hayden? But that has McCormick ranch, another huge obstacle. The only way I could see a rail/commuter train through scottsdale is if it was above ground and along the 101 and headed to some commuter train stop in downtown phx.

Your not gonna get any argument from me. I don't live in Scottsdale and it's very seldom that I have any need to go there.

Apparently, the Scottsdale City Government and/or its residents have deemed an investment in furthering public transportation services either: unnecessary, undesirable, or a waste of financial resources; or possibly all of the above.

Although I may not be in agreement, as far as I'm concerned, that decision is completely between the residents of Scottsdale and the local Scottsdale City Government.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Originally Posted by vince3vince

The only way I could see a rail/commuter train through scottsdale is if it was above ground and along the 101 and headed to some commuter train stop in downtown phx.

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I agree with the feasibility of it, or lack thereof, but I would love to see it. I would love to be able to have dinner in Old Town without worrying about driving after a couple cocktails.

So then how about a 101 freeway median light rail with park and ride, and perhaps a short spurlike streetcar connection to Old Town Scottsdale, say down Indian School connecting to that line?