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luv2garden
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 02:55 pm |
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gsbill wrote: How about incorporating a bus system that operates in conjunction with the rail system to move people about the valley? The buses can run routes that coordinate with the rail system's schedule and reach out to locations away from the actual rail line. Provide commuter parking for those wishing to use the system
As Big Show said it makes too much sense. This has been suggested for as long as I have lived in the valley (25 years). So far it has gone no where.
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Bambi
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 09:04 pm |
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Take a look at Mr. Bookchin's research. He's on the Pinal Site. See if you think it's workable for the Valley, including us?
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/12/11/transporation-tuesday-curitiba/
I still think the existing rail line should be the path, as it enters all the cities along it's path, right down to Tucson. I'm not sure where it heads going west out of Phoenix though.
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TheBigShow
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 07:34 pm |
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gsbill wrote: How about incorporating a bus system that operates in conjunction with the rail system to move people about the valley? The buses can run routes that coordinate with the rail system's schedule and reach out to locations away from the actual rail line. Provide commuter parking for those wishing to use the system. Easy fix at a low cost.
Problem with that idea is that it makes sense. 
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Bambi
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 05:39 pm |
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The busses should work in conjunction with the rail, indeed.
I've traveled that trolley system in San Diego. Not during rush hour though. When I did travel it, 15 years ago, it was near empty many times. And full of shoppers headed down to Tiajuana. It also has tracks that go off the beaten path, doesn't it? In other words, goes thru other parts of the city? How many sets of tracks are we talking about? Ours is one set and one path, right? You speak of "several" trolleys.
They also have a fast commuter rail system that goes up the coast, right? Dropping people off in other cities to work?
I'm just stating that the commuter rail, that is rapid rail, would be a better choice to start out with, to move the population out of the neighborhoods, to their jobs. Then bring on that trolley.
Last edited on Tue May 6th, 2008 05:41 pm by Bambi
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gsbill
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 05:25 pm |
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| How about incorporating a bus system that operates in conjunction with the rail system to move people about the valley? The buses can run routes that coordinate with the rail system's schedule and reach out to locations away from the actual rail line. Provide commuter parking for those wishing to use the system. Easy fix at a low cost.
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bigwavedave
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 02:53 pm |
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| Bambi, If the rail is modeled somewhat after the trolley system put in place in San Diego, it can work. Obviously during the construction, things are a mess. San Diego put the system in going South, North and East. Several of the trolley's are express and only stop at two or three designated pick-up/drop-off points and the balance stop at each station. Light rail when planned and executed properly can provide a tremendous service and ridership will increase steadily over time. Phoenix and the surrounding area is so spread out though, the planned routes must be thoroughly researched before jumping in headfirst. I for one, would be happy to see the system come out to the East valley.
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Bambi
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 02:43 pm |
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It seems to me to be a situation calling for priorities. IS it more important to provide a commuter rail service for the residents than a trolley for the winter visitors, who will shop along the light rail? How many stops is the light rail set to make on it's journey? Stops take time....time that is so critical to residents to get to their jobs and back to their homes before dark falls.
What is the Objective? Developers want a rail system that will go by their commercial developments and malls. Once the route is approved and on paper, they will make a prospectus on the property they are trying to develop, and take it to their Lenders for their A and D Loan, as a pursuasive instrument is in their hands, showing how much traffic is proposed for that area, that will provide the revenue source for their projects. It will also be used to show the prospective tenants the amount of traffic in their stores they can expect. Now you have a deal. I've been engaged in this process before and I know how it works.
So, decisions have to be made regarding priorities....fast commuter rail for the residents or a slow, often stopping trolley for the Shoppers. The light rail is indeed a "folly" in my opinion, and a waste of the taxpayers money.....at this point in time. Later, after the taxpaying residents have been served, they can serve the shoppers and visitors. Without good jobs, there won't be money to spend on shopping.
Last edited on Tue May 6th, 2008 02:48 pm by Bambi
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QCVillager
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 02:30 pm |
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I have heard that the UPRR ROW is wide enough for another set of tracks. It seems that there may be a bit of a "wait and see" type thing going on with the east valley cities between here and "there". What you are talking about would be commuter rail as opposed to light rail which is under construction between Phx and Mesa.
There are a lot of people more knowledgable than I am about light rail and those people are basically describing the under construction light rail project as Trolly Folly". They say that light rail and commuter rail work only in specific environments. I have read in news articles that the Phx-Mesa light rail is going to slow down traffic, put more polutants into the air, be way more expensive per mile than busses, be less flexible, etc...
I would want to look into this far more as a regional effort and then look at those environments, do cost/benefit analysis, etc... before taking a position on it.
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Bambi
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Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 01:48 pm |
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This question is for anyone who may have the answer, but certainly to Lisa who has served on your council for many years, and Jeff who is presently serving on Council.
Question: Is Queen Creek pursuing the rails that goes thru Q.C. and other cities, as proposed by our Governor and past officials, going back to the 50's? Rail service for transporting the people out of the small cities to the larger cities that are situated along that existing rail route (Southern Pacific?) from Phoenix to Tucson? I used to pick up the train in Mesa as a kid. Also in Tempe and Phoenix. They used to have stations located along the route. I think the proposal was to add a track. Is that still possible? Are other cities along the route interested in the pursuit or have they caved in to the Developer/attorney/special interest proposed light rail system along the freeway?
We need an aggressive people mover, not a trolley to take people shopping.
Last edited on Tue May 6th, 2008 01:50 pm by Bambi
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