Arizona Rail Passenger Association

The Phoenix Public Transit Department is making changes to DASH, the free downtown circulator, and public input is requested. A public hearing will be conducted on all of the proposed routes on April 3, at the Citizens’ Transit Commission Meeting at 302 N. 1st Ave., Phoenix.

The public is invited to three public open houses to discuss seven proposed routes for DASH, which operates 6:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m. throughout the downtown corridor.

If you have questions or comments about the proposed DASH routes e-mail pubtrans@phoenix.gov, with “DASH Re-Do” in the subject, or call 602-262-7242.

The three options, including Option 3 which would serve Jackson St. in front of Union Station, are at: http://phoenix.gov/PUBLICTRANSIT/newdash.html

In the Arizona Republic, 24 March 2008:

To get people to ride the upcoming light-rail system, Metro is attempting to keep the schedule easy, frequent and on time.

Metro has announced the light-rail trains will run every 10 minutes from sunrise to sunset on weekdays, every 20 minutes other times during the week, every 15 minutes on weekends and will operate roughly 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day…

Rest of the story in the Arizona Republic

Arizona Republic, 23 March 2008

When crews put the final touches on light rail this year, the airport will embark on its own epic train project.

In early April, workers will start building a $1.1 billion, 4.8-mile automated train system that will whisk passengers around Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Rest of the story in the Arizona Republic

Casey Newton, a reporter covering Phoenix City Hall (as the “Hall Pass blog”) for The Arizona Republic, recently interviewed [full article link] Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democratic congressman from Oregon. A few highlights:

Hall Pass: You’ve advocated for light rail in Phoenix for years. What do you make of what you see?

Blumenauer: The thing I’ve heard is that there’s like $6 billion in investment, and the line’s not even open. It’s been a fascinating evolution for me to watch. Look at the challenges that you faced. There is some very entrenched, almost theological opposition to transit. And then look at the changes that are taking place. I find it encouraging.

It’s underway. It’s already influencing development patterns. And it’s coming at just the right time…

…communities that are invested in rail are consistently showing not just new development, but new development that is located in a way that doesn’t put a strain on the community. That the investments that are being made enhance transportation choices for people. These are people that aren’t going to have to burn a gallon of gas to buy a gallon of milk. That they can walk to theaters and walk to work or walk to restaurants or take a short trip. It helps you with a modest air quality problem you’ve got here. It deals with congestion. And something that is very important, it puts more money in people’s pockets. For most American families, transportation is the No. 2 expenditure. And if you do a rigorous accounting, for a number of folks it’s actually the top expenditure.

Rest of the story

According to the East Valley Tribune (see full story in the 15 March edition):

Mayor Hugh Hallman’s re-election was practically assured before the polls opened… Hallman, the only mayoral candidate on the ballot, received 12,839 votes, according to the official results…

Hallman, in an Arizona Republic Election Question Special, said:

…we need to continue our lead in moving the outer communities to commuter rail options to reduce the growing pressure on local freeways..

Also according to the Tribune,

Mark Mitchell [incumbent] was the only candidate to win outright… The other incumbent in the race, Hut Hutson, did not win outright and faces a four-way runoff on May 20 for the remaining two seats against challengers Julie Jakubek, Joel Navarro and Corey Woods…

Mitchell, in the Republic special, said he wants to work on:

working with our Scottsdale and Chandler city councils to extend light rail to their communities. …[and] start looking at whether commuter rail would help alleviate congestion on our roadways.