Just last year we were talking about transportation cuts. The realities of poor sales tax revenue appear to be the main cause of the continued need to make budget changes in many areas. While last year’s cuts didn’t seem to hurt too bad, the pain probably isn’t over. Once again, we are hearing talks of potential transportation cuts to bus, light rail and city circular services.
While advertising on light rail cars appears to be popular and ridership numbers ( according to METRO ) were up approximately 11% in 2010 above 2009 numbers, red ink still appears to be flowing. While no certain cuts to service appear to be set in stone, we have smoke and will probably have fire in the not-too distant future. The City of Tempe released a transit survey yesterday asking people for input and feedback concerning potential service cuts.
On the survey, I counted 19 service-related questions. Three of the questions had to do with potential light rail service cuts, 9 questions about potential cuts to local bus service, 5 questions about express bus service, and 2 questions about changes to the Orbit system. Two of the three questions about light rail talked about eliminating “night rail” service, our late night service which runs on Friday and Saturday nights. The third light rail question has to do with changing the weekday frequency from 12 to 15 minutes. While standing on a platform in the middle of the day doesn’t sound too bad in the nice weather we are having, those 110 degree temps will be back soon enough, if ya’ know what I mean…
In 2009, we were told that the approximate annual cost to extend the late night hours for light rail was $254,000.
Please note: NONE of these potential changes have been voted on. Several public meetings are coming up for people to voice their opinion. In fact, there needs to be a consensus between the three cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa before changes take place. I recently heard a City of Tempe transportation employee say that he didn’t expect any real changes to rail for fiscal year 2012.
You are encouraged to TAKE THE SURVEY and give your opinion. Of course, I’d like to hear your opinion here, as well. Will changes and further cuts cause you to use public transportation less? What are other options? Do you think there is a possibility of more public / private investment in service? Could Arizona do something similar to what is happening in Seattle where employers along transportation lines chip in to help offset some of the costs of maintaining frequency or late night hours? Watch for more politics and posturing in the near future as these talks continue, it’s going to get interesting…
What I don’t understand is how they’re proposing all these cuts at the same time they’re talking about expanding the light rail. I hope they are able to expand, but it makes me wonder if the city can afford all the exciting things they’re talking about, especially if these cuts are coming despite the increase in ridership.
Jack, you make some great points.
I think the funding for the expansion of the system comes from a different revenue stream than the operation budget. It all gets kind of confusing because you have local sales tax revenue, federal funds etc etc.
The expansion plans have been in place but who knows if those funds will still be there when the time comes to start building.
It’s always interesting, that’s for sure…