Will Scottsdale Ever Get Onboard With Light Rail?

[raindance maggie]

Less than 5% of the population rides light rail.
Why the push to lay more rail lines throughout Phoenix and get Scottsdale on board? It costs too much, and the construction creates enormous traffic delays and hurts businesses.
Phoenix is a vehicle-oriented city as are most other cities in the country, the majority of people drive their own cars everywhere. If we need to improve the transit system the answer is more bus routes, not more trains that roll around empty a good part of the time.

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by raindance maggie

Less than 5% of the population rides light rail.
Why the push to lay more rail lines throughout Phoenix and get Scottsdale on board? It costs too much, and the construction creates enormous traffic delays and hurts businesses.
Phoenix is a vehicle-oriented city as are most other cities in the country, the majority of people drive their own cars everywhere. If we need to improve the transit system the answer is more bus routes, not more trains that roll around empty a good part of the time.

The light rail's ridership has exceeded Valley Metro's expectations, and light rail can stimulate ridership compared to buses. So the light rail isn't rolling around empty most of the time.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by raindance maggie

Less than 5% of the population rides light rail.
Why the push to lay more rail lines throughout Phoenix and get Scottsdale on board? It costs too much, and the construction creates enormous traffic delays and hurts businesses.
Phoenix is a vehicle-oriented city as are most other cities in the country, the majority of people drive their own cars everywhere. If we need to improve the transit system the answer is more bus routes, not more trains that roll around empty a good part of the time.

They don't, but you keep repeating this as if it were true.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

They don't, but you keep repeating this as if it were true.

I use it all the time, often there is barely standing room. Id consider the Rail a success.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by raindance maggie

Less than 5% of the population rides light rail.
Why the push to lay more rail lines throughout Phoenix and get Scottsdale on board? It costs too much, and the construction creates enormous traffic delays and hurts businesses.
Phoenix is a vehicle-oriented city as are most other cities in the country, the majority of people drive their own cars everywhere. If we need to improve the transit system the answer is more bus routes, not more trains that roll around empty a good part of the time.

Of course Phoenix is vehicle-oriented but so is Los Angeles, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Denver, Dallas, and Houston, all these cities have successful light rail systems.

A comprehensive mass transit system is what any major city needs and it includes all modes of transportation, not just roads and busses.

I'm guessing you haven't ridden on Phoenix's light rail or seen any of the trains rolling by. If you have, you would have noticed most of the trains are full instead of empty.

[swbrotha100]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Actually, it does reduce the number of traffic lanes. Central Avenue prior to light rail was three lanes in each direction with a concrete median. The median was removed when construction began, and the center of the street needed to be wide enough for a two way track ... therefore, the number of lanes on Central Avenue (and Camelback, and 19th Avenue for that matter) are now only two in each direction.

Central was narrowed, but Camelback has 3 lanes in each direction on its stretch of light rail. 19th Ave has 2 lanes SB and 3 lanes NB on its stretch.

[swbrotha100]

Could the light rail be heading to Scottsdale? - azfamily.com 3TV | Phoenix Breaking News, Weather, Sport

IF the Scottsdale city council approved plans to bring light rail into the city today, construction wouldn't even START for at least 20 years.

[GeneR]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

Of course Phoenix is vehicle-oriented but so is Los Angeles, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Denver, Dallas, and Houston, all these cities have successful light rail systems.

Or not....

Southland transit agencies report shrinking ridership as investments continue to grow - LA Times