Light Rail becomes "Con Rail" (Phoenix, Mesa: mover, how much)

[Ponderosa]

Sheriff Joe is going to use new light rail to shuttle prisoners around. Nothing to worry about he says. "My deputies are armed." Is this a slap at Mayor Gordon or what?

Sheriff Joe plans to move prisoners on 'Con Rail'

[Woody7]

That's just gold. Joe sticking it to Old Phil again, LOL!

[chandlerguy]

You gotta love Sheriff Joe -- he figured out a way to save money and to how to use the trolley car for something useful. Let Phil Gordumb suck on this one!

[zenkonami]

May not be a bad idea, actually. I wouldn't do it during peak times, but if the trains are running off-peak anyway, it doesn't hurt to have people on them, convicts or otherwise. Plus, if Sheriff Joe and his posse want to handle some extra security gratis it'll only improve the image of light rail as a safe, viable alternative form of transportation through the Valley's main corridor.

And besides, there's something wonderfully "wild west" about the notion. Phoenix could use a little character.

Of course, at the first sign of trouble, I'm sure the idea would get nixed, but it's worth a go.

[buckeyenative01]

Poor Valley Metro was caught completely off guard by this judging by their responses in interviews earlier today.

[joninaz]

Brilliant.

Other than ASU's forced system integration, this is the first natural connection of major BlightRail populations. Not only can the 44th Street jail population move more easily to the downtown courts, the tour de farce also can transport the hoodlums of North Central, the bedouin criminals of the Washington wasteland, and the W. Mesa shantytown refuse to their jail, mental hospital or courtroom of choice.

I was wrong to think only of this as a 2 billion dollar canker connection... for it not only provides tourists with a Wild Animal Park-like safari tour of dilapidation, but it also serves as an efficient mover of certain populations down the proverbial poopshoots of PHX.

Maybe Joe should move Tent City to the mostly vacant Washington route. It could help bump the ridership numbers to the delight of the sunshine pumpers and be the premier development along that $800 million stretch of nothingness.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by zenkonami

May not be a bad idea, actually. I wouldn't do it during peak times, but if the trains are running off-peak anyway, it doesn't hurt to have people on them, convicts or otherwise. Plus, if Sheriff Joe and his posse want to handle some extra security gratis it'll only improve the image of light rail as a safe, viable alternative form of transportation through the Valley's main corridor.

And besides, there's something wonderfully "wild west" about the notion. Phoenix could use a little character.

Of course, at the first sign of trouble, I'm sure the idea would get nixed, but it's worth a go.

I normally have enormous respect for your posts, but you've completely lost me on this one. This is nothing but yet another publicity stunt by the Sheriff. It's also a political ploy used by the Sheriff to get back at his political rival, Mayor Gordon. It's also questionable whether this will improve security. I can't imagine it will make a favorable impression on the 850 people a day who use the rail-to-airport connection at 44th / Washington.

[chandlerguy]

Originally Posted by silverbear

I normally have enormous respect for your posts, but you've completely lost me on this one. This is nothing but yet another publicity stunt by the Sheriff. It's also a political ploy used by the Sheriff to get back at his political rival, Mayor Gordon. It's also questionable whether this will improve security. I can't imagine it will make a favorable impression on the 850 people a day who use the rail-to-airport connection at 44th / Washington.

I wouldn't worry about safety. Joe's sheriffs will have plenty of firepower to make sure things don't get out of hand, and most of the prisoners will probably be shackled into chain gangs.

Criminals are afraid of Joe so you won't have the usual predators hanging around the stations.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by zenkonami

May not be a bad idea, actually. I wouldn't do it during peak times, but if the trains are running off-peak anyway, it doesn't hurt to have people on them, convicts or otherwise. Plus, if Sheriff Joe and his posse want to handle some extra security gratis it'll only improve the image of light rail as a safe, viable alternative form of transportation through the Valley's main corridor.

And besides, there's something wonderfully "wild west" about the notion. Phoenix could use a little character.

Of course, at the first sign of trouble, I'm sure the idea would get nixed, but it's worth a go.

Sounds like you are putting on a "brave face" about this. Even I, who thinks LR is a colossal waste of public funds, find sabotaging its image with the transport of potentially violent felons appalling. Sheriff Joe was on the tube last night with a statement similar to "escapes happen - get used to the idea". His whole demeanor seemed vindictive. I do hope this idea dies for lack of a second. The citizens of Arizona have invested a large amount of money in this project and their votes and efforts deserve more respect than this.

[miamiman]

The just proves how much of a fraud light-rail is. Now people are supposed to give up car trips to ride on public transportation with criminals.

I have stated that light-rail will become a moving ghetto, and this just proves it to be true. What a waste of money.