Comments on: Metro’s I-10 West extension update http://raillife.com/blog/2009/06/09/metro%e2%80%99s-i-10-west-extension-update/ Phoenix Light Rail news and information Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:59:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David SB http://raillife.com/blog/2009/06/09/metro%e2%80%99s-i-10-west-extension-update/#comment-28 David SB Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:11:02 +0000 /blog/post/2009/06/09/Metro-s-I-10-West-extension-update.aspx#comment-28 My point of view differs from Michelle's. I don't consider the alignment of the 20-mile starter line a mistake at all. An opportunity for a private right-of-way did not exist, and if it did, it would probably be too far removed from the activity centers that light rail serves. If light rail runs in the I-10 median, it will work as commuter rail to west side park-and-rides but not really interact much with the surrounding neighborhoods. That may be an acceptable tradeoff, but it should be entereed into with the understanding of what is lost when rail transit is kept separate from its urban context. My point of view differs from Michelle’s. I don’t consider the alignment of the 20-mile starter line a mistake at all. An opportunity for a private right-of-way did not exist, and if it did, it would probably be too far removed from the activity centers that light rail serves. If light rail runs in the I-10 median, it will work as commuter rail to west side park-and-rides but not really interact much with the surrounding neighborhoods. That may be an acceptable tradeoff, but it should be entereed into with the understanding of what is lost when rail transit is kept separate from its urban context.

]]> By: Michelle A. Eyre http://raillife.com/blog/2009/06/09/metro%e2%80%99s-i-10-west-extension-update/#comment-27 Michelle A. Eyre Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:41:37 +0000 /blog/post/2009/06/09/Metro-s-I-10-West-extension-update.aspx#comment-27 Hopefully, METRO will learn from the major mistake in the original alignment, an ungated right-of-way and 35 MPH speed limits. If this alignment does not go on the freeway, it should not go on a surface street but instead should be in private right of way with grade crossing gates. This will mean the trains will be able to operate to 55MPH. Myself, I would like to see Metro create an extension from the Central/Washington area via the Jefferson/Washington corridor to the state capitol and run this line from Sycamore to the West Valley. A separate "Central Line" could be created to run between Montebello and the 3rd Street stations using 11th Street as a turnaround point (I know this will upset some in this area). If Metro extends into South Phoenix, then the "Central Line" would then operate in that direction. I do not feel that ridership would dictate operating a branch route trunked between 3JF/3WA and SYMN. This would mean 5 minute headway in the trunk zone which is overkill. Especially with METRO's poor on-platforms systems, could you imagine trying to communicate which branch line train is coming next. Keep it simple. Leave the confusion to the one station (3JF/3WA). As far as the alignment in the westside goes. First of all, there needs to be mile stops along the alignment to meet up with connecting transit services. It also needs to go to Desert Sky Mall. DSky is a major transit hub and the gateway to Avondale. With the exception of the Rapid, there is no one seat ride between Desert Sky and Downtown. It would be nice if the LRT could do that. =m Hopefully, METRO will learn from the major mistake in the original alignment, an ungated right-of-way and 35 MPH speed limits. If this alignment does not go on the freeway, it should not go on a surface street but instead should be in private right of way with grade crossing gates. This will mean the trains will be able to operate to 55MPH.

Myself, I would like to see Metro create an extension from the Central/Washington area via the Jefferson/Washington corridor to the state capitol and run this line from Sycamore to the West Valley. A separate “Central Line” could be created to run between Montebello and the 3rd Street stations using 11th Street as a turnaround point (I know this will upset some in this area). If Metro extends into South Phoenix, then the “Central Line” would then operate in that direction.

I do not feel that ridership would dictate operating a branch route trunked between 3JF/3WA and SYMN. This would mean 5 minute headway in the trunk zone which is overkill.

Especially with METRO’s poor on-platforms systems, could you imagine trying to communicate which branch line train is coming next. Keep it simple. Leave the confusion to the one station (3JF/3WA).

As far as the alignment in the westside goes. First of all, there needs to be mile stops along the alignment to meet up with connecting transit services. It also needs to go to Desert Sky Mall. DSky is a major transit hub and the gateway to Avondale. With the exception of the Rapid, there is no one seat ride between Desert Sky and Downtown. It would be nice if the LRT could do that.

=m

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