What do all of you locals think of the rail system in Phoenix? (inspectors, utilities)

[adriver]

The problems I have with it are that unlike the bus, for the most part you are on the honor system whether or not you have paid to ride. (unless it has changed), there are police who ride it to catch people but they are only ride on certain days. The homeless/transients we have around here then started using the light rail to travel to the opposite sides of the city to commit crime. There was a break in almost right after the dunlap expansion opened up. The buses need a driver who can keep an eye on everyone coming on, but there is no tracking system to keep track of who is just getting on.


What I really like about it is; during "drinking holidays" such as New years, and St. Patricks day, I think there are a few more; they run the light rail (usually free) till 2 am. I love the safety factor that provides at the prime time to keep all those extra drunk drivers off the road.


I have used it a few times myself; from downtown, and to and from the airport. Downtown was during rush hour, and it was incredibly quick. If I was driving it would have taken me 2-3 times as long. When I took it to and from the airport, it goes right to the terminal. It was during the summer, and you don't even go outside.


Its got its problems, but I am a fan of it, and enjoy using it when its the best option, even though I don't live close enough to just walk to it.

[Stjoan]

Originally Posted by adriver

The problems I have with it are that unlike the bus, for the most part you are on the honor system whether or not you have paid to ride. (unless it has changed), there are police who ride it to catch people but they are only ride on certain days. The homeless/transients we have around here then started using the light rail to travel to the opposite sides of the city to commit crime. There was a break in almost right after the dunlap expansion opened up. The buses need a driver who can keep an eye on everyone coming on, but there is no tracking system to keep track of who is just getting on.


What I really like about it is; during "drinking holidays" such as New years, and St. Patricks day, I think there are a few more; they run the light rail (usually free) till 2 am. I love the safety factor that provides at the prime time to keep all those extra drunk drivers off the road.


I have used it a few times myself; from downtown, and to and from the airport. Downtown was during rush hour, and it was incredibly quick. If I was driving it would have taken me 2-3 times as long. When I took it to and from the airport, it goes right to the terminal. It was during the summer, and you don't even go outside.


Its got its problems, but I am a fan of it, and enjoy using it when its the best option, even though I don't live close enough to just walk to it.

Thank you for your well thought out opinion. I think any public transport is a benefit for sure. Nothing is perfect, but it has some good points and many use it.

[Stjoan]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Heavy rail is like the Chicago L or NYC Subway, same rail gauge as freight cars, and is capable of speeds up to 70mph. Where light rail is only capable of speeds up to about 35mph and is lighter gauge rail tracks

Thanks. Did not know that.

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by Stjoan

Thanks. Did not know that.

Also, heavy rail is usually powered by a third rail, while light rail is usually powered by overhead wire.

[Renegade007]

I am also surprised at the apparent lack of enforcement for ticket violations on the light rail. Yes, there is transit security, but if you're smart, it's pretty easy to hop off the train when you see the white shirts boarding. Just move to another car, or wait a few minutes for another train. The homeless people do it all the time. Lots of them just ride the light rail up and down all day long for free. (Looking for jobs I presume? Yeah, uh huh.)

On the other hand, maybe they can't afford additional officers to catch the fare jumpers...

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Renegade007

I am also surprised at the apparent lack of enforcement for ticket violations on the light rail. Yes, there is transit security, but if you're smart, it's pretty easy to hop off the train when you see the white shirts boarding. Just move to another car, or wait a few minutes for another train. The homeless people do it all the time. Lots of them just ride the light rail up and down all day long for free. (Looking for jobs I presume? Yeah, uh huh.)

Evidence that this is actually true?

How would you actually know if people were riding the train all day? Do you hang out at the end points and watch to see if incoming passengers stay on the train? Or do you see a poor person on the train and assume that they are riding for free?

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Renegade007

I am also surprised at the apparent lack of enforcement for ticket violations on the light rail. Yes, there is transit security, but if you're smart, it's pretty easy to hop off the train when you see the white shirts boarding. Just move to another car, or wait a few minutes for another train. The homeless people do it all the time. Lots of them just ride the light rail up and down all day long for free. (Looking for jobs I presume? Yeah, uh huh.)

On the other hand, maybe they can't afford additional officers to catch the fare jumpers...

They don't only have fare checkers on certain days. I don't keep track, and I don't ride every day, but I would guess that over time, I've been checked every day of the week. On some trips, I've been checked more than once. I often watch the fare checkers as they go through the cars, I've very rarely seen someone not produce a ticket or pass. Just how much time do you spend riding the rail back and forth across town?

Originally Posted by adriver

The problems I have with it are that unlike the bus, for the most part you are on the honor system whether or not you have paid to ride. (unless it has changed), there are police who ride it to catch people but they are only ride on certain days. The homeless/transients we have around here then started using the light rail to travel to the opposite sides of the city to commit crime. There was a break in almost right after the dunlap expansion opened up. The buses need a driver who can keep an eye on everyone coming on, but there is no tracking system to keep track of who is just getting on.


What I really like about it is; during "drinking holidays" such as New years, and St. Patricks day, I think there are a few more; they run the light rail (usually free) till 2 am. I love the safety factor that provides at the prime time to keep all those extra drunk drivers off the road.


I have used it a few times myself; from downtown, and to and from the airport. Downtown was during rush hour, and it was incredibly quick. If I was driving it would have taken me 2-3 times as long. When I took it to and from the airport, it goes right to the terminal. It was during the summer, and you don't even go outside.


Its got its problems, but I am a fan of it, and enjoy using it when its the best option, even though I don't live close enough to just walk to it.

I don't think that many people ride the train across town so that they can commit crime. So there was a breakin right after they opened the Dunlap segment. I'm sure there were breakins before that, too. Can you say for a fact that the person who committed the breakin took the rail to get there?

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

Evidence that this is actually true?

How would you actually know if people were riding the train all day? Do you hang out at the end points and watch to see if incoming passengers stay on the train? Or do you see a poor person on the train and assume that they are riding for free?

Exactly.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by adriver

The problems I have with it are that unlike the bus, for the most part you are on the honor system whether or not you have paid to ride. (unless it has changed), there are police who ride it to catch people but they are only ride on certain days. The homeless/transients we have around here then started using the light rail to travel to the opposite sides of the city to commit crime. There was a break in almost right after the dunlap expansion opened up. The buses need a driver who can keep an eye on everyone coming on, but there is no tracking system to keep track of who is just getting on.


What I really like about it is; during "drinking holidays" such as New years, and St. Patricks day, I think there are a few more; they run the light rail (usually free) till 2 am. I love the safety factor that provides at the prime time to keep all those extra drunk drivers off the road.


I have used it a few times myself; from downtown, and to and from the airport. Downtown was during rush hour, and it was incredibly quick. If I was driving it would have taken me 2-3 times as long. When I took it to and from the airport, it goes right to the terminal. It was during the summer, and you don't even go outside.


Its got its problems, but I am a fan of it, and enjoy using it when its the best option, even though I don't live close enough to just walk to it.

The main issue with light rail is it's public transportation. With that, you get a fair share of bums, transients, and rude people. It's a mix of all types really. I used to come across quite a few types like that on the city bus system, and some who tried to get out of paying the fare. There should definitely be some kind of computerized or turnstyle system that makes you prove that you paid before boarding the light rail trains. But even then, it still won't completely stop the sleaze factor.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

The main issue with light rail is it's public transportation. With that, you get a fair share of bums, transients, and rude people. It's a mix of all types really. I used to come across quite a few types like that on the city bus system, and some who tried to get out of paying the fare. There should definitely be some kind of computerized or turnstyle (sic) system that makes you prove that you paid before boarding the light rail trains. But even then, it still won't completely stop the sleaze factor.

Turnstiles don't work with at-grade systems. All you would have to do to bypass it is to step down on the tracks before the turnstile and step back up onto the platform beyond the turnstile.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

Turnstiles don't work with at-grade systems. All you would have to do to bypass it is to step down on the tracks before the turnstile and step back up onto the platform beyond the turnstile.

I agree but because the trains don't have fareboxes, there should be more security guards or law enforcement to ensure passengers are buying tickets.

The honor system doesn't work and public transportation loses a lot of money because too many people are cheating the system.