Light-rail to Chase Field for Diamondbacks Game. (Phoenix, Mesa: buy, schools)

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

These are not the changes that are occurring, you may have confused the changes that will be taking place:

1. Friday and Saturday services will extend until after 2 a.m. to accommodate bar/club goers. The last trains will leave the end of line stations at 2 a.m.
2. Fares will increase as follows, one way ticket $1.75 and was $1.25; All day pass will cost $3.50 and was $2.50 (this is due to a decrease in transportation revenue from lower sales tax collection...due to the economy)
3. One vehicle cars have been running, usually during game days to accommodate heavy traffic...what happens is that trains on game days are up to three cars long, a "follow up" train moves in to a stop where a three car train just left in order to handle the over flow. Some of these "follow up" trains are one or two cars long.

Valley Metro | Welcome (http://www.valleymetro.org/press_releases/detail/new_fares_for_bus_and_rail_transit_riders_on_july_ 1/ - broken link)
Valley Metro | Welcome (http://www.valleymetro.org/press_releases/detail/metro_extends_weekend_service/ - broken link)
Valley Metro | Fare Increases FAQs
Valley Metro | Rider Alerts

Actually, joninaz is right this time, as much as I hate to admit it. Ridership is well above expectations, but fare revenues are below expectations, largely due to issues with employer-provided platinum passess. Those issues are being addressed, but in the interim, there is a shortfall in METRO Light Rail's operating budget. As he mentioned, there are two service changes being considered to address that shortfall: 1) running single-car trains during off-peak hours 2) reducing Sunday service frequency from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes. I'm not crazy about either change, but I'll accept both in order to preserve the late weekend hours just approved.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/139880 (broken link)

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by silverbear

Actually, joninaz is right this time, as much as I hate to admit it. Ridership is well above expectations, but fare revenues are below expectations, largely due to issues with employer-provided platinum passess. Those issues are being addressed, but in the interim, there is a shortfall in METRO Light Rail's operating budget. As he mentioned, there are two service changes being considered to address that shortfall: 1) running single-car trains during off-peak hours 2) reducing Sunday service frequency from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes. I'm not crazy about either change, but I'll accept both in order to preserve the late weekend hours just approved.

Metro considers smaller light-rail trains | eastvalleytribune.com (http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/139880 - broken link)

Weekend trains arrivals do already arrive every 20 minutes during off peak hours, during the week as well:
Hours of Service
Weekdays
Hours. Trains begin the first full trip of the day at 4:35 a.m. at the Sycamore/Main station and at 4:40 a.m. at the Montebello/19th Ave station. The last full trips of the day begins at 11 p.m., arriving at the opposite end of the line at midnight. Get a PDF of our detailed service schedule. Please note that arrival times are estimates and the schedule is subject to change.
Frequency. Trains arrive every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; all other hours, every 20 minutes.

Weekends and holidays
Trains begin the first full trip of the day at 5 a.m. at the end-of-the-line stations. The last full trip of the day begins at 11 p.m., arriving at the opposite end of the line at midnight.
Frequency. Trains arrive every 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.; all other hours, every 20 minutes.
http://www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail/how_to_ride/ (broken link)

Maybe there is just a detail I am misunderstanding. Anyway, I think they should consider very tasteful advertising on board. I like the wrapping they used for the NBA All Star GAme, but maybe something like flat screen tv's inside the train with digital ads??? I think it would be prettier than paper or sticker adds. However, one train cars would be a good idea. I think they look cute! LOL, and the one train cars are always full, which seems rather fiscally responsible. There are times on the weekends, especially Sunday when things die down considerably.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

Weekend trains arrivals do already arrive every 20 minutes during off peak hours, during the week as well:
Hours of Service
Weekdays
Hours. Trains begin the first full trip of the day at 4:35 a.m. at the Sycamore/Main station and at 4:40 a.m. at the Montebello/19th Ave station. The last full trips of the day begins at 11 p.m., arriving at the opposite end of the line at midnight. Get a PDF of our detailed service schedule. Please note that arrival times are estimates and the schedule is subject to change.
Frequency. Trains arrive every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; all other hours, every 20 minutes.

Weekends and holidays
Trains begin the first full trip of the day at 5 a.m. at the end-of-the-line stations. The last full trip of the day begins at 11 p.m., arriving at the opposite end of the line at midnight.
Frequency. Trains arrive every 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.; all other hours, every 20 minutes.
Valley Metro | How to Ride (http://www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail/how_to_ride/ - broken link)

Maybe there is just a detail I am misunderstanding. Anyway, I think they should consider very tasteful advertising on board. I like the wrapping they used for the NBA All Star GAme, but maybe something like flat screen tv's inside the train with digital ads??? I think it would be prettier than paper or sticker adds. However, one train cars would be a good idea. I think they look cute! LOL, and the one train cars are always full, which seems rather fiscally responsible. There are times on the weekends, especially Sunday when things die down considerably.

Ads are on the way. That was approved a while back.

As for Sunday hours, here's what's going on:

Now: 15 minutes between trains from 6 AM until 7 PM; 20 minutes between trains at other times

Under consideration: 20 minutes between trains all day

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by silverbear

Ads are on the way. That was approved a while back.

As for Sunday hours, here's what's going on:

Now: 15 minutes between trains from 6 AM until 7 PM; 20 minutes between trains at other times

Under consideration: 20 minutes between trains all day

LOL, oh, duh!!! Ok, thats not too bad...however, I would love to save those 5 minutes on Sundays. They are considering digital ads???!!! Or just paper and sticker type ads?

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

LOL, oh, duh!!! Ok, thats not too bad...however, I would love to save those 5 minutes on Sundays. They are considering digital ads???!!! Or just paper and sticker type ads?

Not sure. I think train wraps, like those used during the NBA All Star Game, are also a possibility. I actually thought those NBA train wraps were pretty cool.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by silverbear

Not sure. I think train wraps, like those used during the NBA All Star Game, are also a possibility. I actually thought those NBA train wraps were pretty cool.

Me too, they were very well designed and were not tacky at all!

[eastsideweezie]

They'd better keep the trains running until at least 2 in the morning when all the bars close.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by eastsideweezie

They'd better keep the trains running until at least 2 in the morning when all the bars close.

That is what is going to happen starting July 1.

[ArizonaBear]

20 minute intervals?

That is a hell of a lot better than waiting one hour for a bus on even McDowell, etc. for Saturday/Sunday.

[Highpointer]

Here is information about Valley Light Rail from the Diamondbacks's website:

Light rail operates 365 days a year serving riders in Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe. Trains run every 15-20 minutes and drops you off within walking distance of Chase Field. Light rail is designed to carry a large amount of people heading to games or events.

Buy your light rail fare at any light rail station with cash, credit, or debit card. If traveling to and from Chase Field, purchase an all-day pass to avoid lines at fare vending machines after the game. Once you activate your pass, it's good for unlimited boardings the same day.