METRO adds permanent weekend Owl service May 27th, 2009
PHOENIX: “Metro will start late night service on weekends in July… [using] some of the savings that cities accrued when the feds paid back early… [this is about double the cost of] Owl trains… about $256,000 a year… Metro won’t run a one-year experiment. [Huzzah!] Late trains will be part of service from now on. That means the last train will cruise through downtown Phoenix and downtown Tempe just after 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday…”
Also: “planners told the board that the economic slump will force Metro to delay by one-to-two years the upcoming extensions and that plans to extend light rail toward Paradise Valley Mall may have to wait until voters adopt a new sales tax. The problem is the last transportation tax, Prop. 400, is bringing in billions of dollars less than expected. No decision was reached. A vote is scheduled for June 17…”
Rest of the story: http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/lightrailblog/53722
Plans to expand light rail progress August 23rd, 2008
A plan to link south Tempe and parts of Chandler to the 20-mile light-rail starter line that weaves west from Mesa through Tempe and Phoenix is inching closer to completion…
The Tempe South Corridor Study is part of a two-year analysis of which routes and mass-transit options would offer the best connection to the current light-rail line… Last week, Jyme Sue McLaren, Tempe’s Deputy Public Works manager, updated the Tempe City Council on the study… based on community input and a technical analysis…
Options targeted for further analysis include bus-rapid transit or commuter rail on Union Pacific Railroad lines, bus-rapid transit in a lane shared with vehicles or modern streetcars on Mill Avenue or Kyrene Road and bus-rapid transit, light rail or modern streetcars on Rural Road…
Rest of the story in the Arizona Republic 20 August, 2008
ARPA on the TIME Initiative July 31st, 2008
The Association’s Board, after reading this November’s ballot initiative, believes that its provisions for transportation improvements are consistent with the goal of improved rail passenger service and public transit in Arizona. We suggest that our members carefully consider the costs and benefits of the entire initiative.
The measure would create a fund, estimated at about $42 billion, of which over $7 billion would be channeled through ADOT and related agencies. Funds would be available for regional rail between Phoenix and Tucson, commuter rail service within the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas, expanded light rail and bus service, a statewide rural bus route system, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
We await full details on the rail component of the plan, and on the phasing of monies to be spent.
Study to show Grand [Avenue] commuter rail options July 27th, 2008
A proposal for commuter rail service that would carry passengers between downtown Phoenix and Wickenburg is picking up steam.
The Maricopa Association of Governments Executive Committee this week hired URS to come up with detailed options to implement commuter service along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway line on the Grand Avenue corridor. The firm, which is based in San Francisco and has an office in Phoenix, also will look at such components as cost and potential ridership…
