Downtown Phoenix-to-Tolleson light-rail route revised (Santan: neighborhood, tax, mall)

[Greatday]

Valley transit officials are close to approving a new proposal for extending light rail to link downtown Phoenix to Tolleson.

Albert Santana of the Phoenix City Manager's Office and Tom Callow of Metro light rail told the Phoenix Citizens' Transit Commission on Thursday that a series of meetings with state officials and residents in the St. Matthew's neighborhood, west of the state Capitol, have led to a tentative agreement on a route.

It calls for the 11-mile West Rail Link to run near Interstate 10 from Tolleson into Phoenix


Read more: Downtown Phoenix-to-Tolleson light-rail route revised

[Bondurant]

First, I would like to know if there's money for this and how Phoenix plans on getting the cash.

Second, Tolleson? I would think adding more track north bound on 19th Ave would make more sense or trying to branch out towards Metro mall or something. More ridership in general and more points of interest. More tickets purchased.

[ArkansasSlim]

Wow! When my Dad moved to (near) Tolleson in the mid 1930s to work as a cowboy for the Arizona Land and Cattle Company, Tolleson was a little dusty cow town out in the middle of nowhere. I can only imagine what it looks like now.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Bondurant

First, I would like to know if there's money for this and how Phoenix plans on getting the cash.

Second, Tolleson? I would think adding more track north bound on 19th Ave would make more sense or trying to branch out towards Metro mall or something. More ridership in general and more points of interest. More tickets purchased.

The northbound 19th Av is underway

[sunluv]

Exciting! The more they expand the more this popular light rail will develop and connect various parts of the city that could use a contemporary, faster and more pleasant alternative to buses. This would also allow a viable, inexpensive means of getting from the west valley to the airport and elsewhere.

[Java Jolt]

I'm glad to see plans for something like this.

The west valley suburban areas really need to be included more in mass transit planning.

Light rail needs to be expanded and more freeways are needed for the west valley.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

...and more freeways are needed for the west valley.

Absolutely not. All that does is encourage sprawl. I might agree if the developers who insist on building in BFE would pay for the roads.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

Absolutely not. All that does is encourage sprawl. I might agree if the developers who insist on building in BFE would pay for the roads.

Didn't we vote a few years ago on keeping the tax for expanding the freeways? It passed overwhelmingly if I recall correctly.

The 801 Loop is badly needed as a reliever to I-10, that was part of the new freeway plan the voters passed.

Every metropolitan area has sprawl, you can't stop it from happening.

But any metropolitan area with good planning sense will have a comprehensive mass transit system, including busses, light rail, commuter rail, and roads.

We need to keep building on all of these.

[citynomad]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

Didn't we vote a few years ago on keeping the tax for expanding the freeways? It passed overwhelmingly if I recall correctly.

The 801 Loop is badly needed as a reliever to I-10, that was part of the new freeway plan the voters passed.

Every metropolitan area has sprawl, you can't stop it from happening.

But any metropolitan area with good planning sense will have a comprehensive mass transit system, including busses, light rail, commuter rail, and roads.

We need to keep building on all of these.

It's been awhile since I've been Arizona and I'm glad Metro Phoenix is serious about it's transportation system. The U.S. really needs to upgrade and improve it's roads, bridges etc.. and maybe add some more art and monuments along the way. I've traveled all over and the good ol' USA is looking more like third world.

This talk about 'where will all the money would come from' and 'I am not supporting it' is nothin but an easy way out of an argument until you experience it. I was just a few minutes shy from that I-35W Minnesota Bridge collapse (Aug 07), fyi.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Bondurant

First, I would like to know if there's money for this and how Phoenix plans on getting the cash.

Second, Tolleson? I would think adding more track north bound on 19th Ave would make more sense or trying to branch out towards Metro mall or something. More ridership in general and more points of interest. More tickets purchased.

Getting cars off I-10 would be a good thing. And, as indicated below, going further north on 19th is already happening.

Originally Posted by Greatday

The northbound 19th Av is underway