The light rail starts trial runs today

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

I'm familiar with them and while they do seem to provide good shade, it still doesn't get you out of 110 degree temperatures. I wonder if they could have done enclosed booths that are air conditioned, or is that not probably due to safety concerns?
I'm thinking an all glass room with doors on two sides that people could wait inside until the train comes.

Somehow, I think such enclosed structures might end up as mini-homeless shelters. As for misters, using them on such a large scale might not be a good example in terms of water conservation. I think shade is by the far the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to make passengers waiting for trains more comfortable, and I'm glad to see the station design seems to have gotten that right.

One other thing to remember: Light rail service starts on December 26, 2008. I'm sure that part of the reasoning behind a winter start date is that it allows riders to have several months of good weather during which they can become enthuiastic about light rail and used to riding it. When the summer heat comes a few months later, habits will be ingrained and passengers will be less deterred by the heat. It's the same logic that was used when the Minneapolis light rail opened in the middle of the summer rather than during a cold Minnesota winter.

[HX_Guy]

Makes sense to me. Someone commented that this has already been pushed back from the original March date and to me it makes sense, why start service in March and have only 2 months of good weather before the heat hits? This way, there will be a good 5 months of good weather for people to get used to the light rail.

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by silverbear

It's the same logic that was used when the Minneapolis light rail opened in the middle of the summer rather than during a cold Minnesota winter.

Holy Cow, lets not talk about Minnesota Winter. Heck even logic freezes in that climate, I was there a few years back last week of January (I know heck of a time to go there but I had no say in it since it was a business trip), anyhow after getting exposed to that nasty.ss cold, using the restroom for #1 was embarrassing, I needed a pair of tweezers to find...

...anyhoo, it was bad!

[aj661]

Originally Posted by TurcoLoco

Holy Cow, lets not talk about Minnesota Winter. Heck even logic freezes in that climate, I was there a few years back last week of January (I know heck of a time to go there but I had no say in it since it was a business trip), anyhow after getting exposed to that nasty.ss cold, using the restroom for #1 was embarrassing, I needed a pair of tweezers to find...

...anyhoo, it was bad!

Be honest...it was probably tweezers and a magnifying glass