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Light rail may not start on time — and Arpaio’s investigation of AG Goddard may never finish

A A A Comments (5) By Sarah Fenske Thursday, May 22 2008

...continued from page 2

As the investigation into Goddard's dealings enters its 14th month, we ought to be clamoring for Arpaio and Thomas to wrap things up.

We know if they could find a way to indict the guy, they would. But if they can't, they owe it to us to announce that the case is closed.

Perhaps we shouldn't start heading to the train station just yet . . .

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It's one slow race to the finish after another, these days, whether you're talking a 13-month "investigation" into nothing or a $1.4 billion rail project that doesn't yet have drivers.

In both cases, the train has jumped the track.

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taylor 05/28/2008 7:59:00 PM

I wish they'd get it together already.

David SB 05/23/2008 4:40:00 PM

"tracks that won't even take us to the airport" -- Can we please get past that frequently repeated but utterly incorrect statement? The Airport will be served by the 44th Street / Washington Station. What many critics don't understand is the circumstances that differentiate between direct rail-to-plane connections and indirect rail-to-plane connections. If you look at national patterns, what Phoenix is doing is actually pretty typical. Direct connections, in which the train actually pulls into the airport terminal within walking distance of ticket counters and gates, are generally feasible only in cities where the airport is at the end of the rail line. Examples of connections like this include Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Indirect connections, in which passengers transfer from the city train to an internal airport transit system (either bus or rail), are generally necessary when the airport is a stop along a line that goes farther than the airport. To detour into the airport terminal would cause needless delays and add greatly to project cost. Examples of connections like this include Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Dallas-Ft. Worth, and Newark. Of course the are many cities in which the local rail transit does not run to the airport at all. These include San Diego, Houston, Denver, and Charlotte. I'm just thankful that Phoenix will be in the indirect category, which is appropriate given Sky Harbor's position along the line rather than at the end of it, and not in the last category of cities with no rail-to-plane connection at all.

Steve 05/23/2008 3:11:00 PM

"Even in the worst-case scenario, Goddard allegedly let the treasurer off the hook in return for money given to the state's coffers. It's not as if Goddard personally garnered one penny from the arrangement." So that makes it ok? Are you kidding me? C'mon Sarah, even a unapologetic socialist such as yourself should know better. I know it's difficult, but you're a "journalist," right? Try not to let your dogmatic ideology cloud your objectivity. Call a spade a spade, even when he's on your side of the aisle.

Mel Allen 05/23/2008 3:06:00 AM

I was originally under the impression that Arizona was a "right to work" state. So shouldn't prospective employees on the light-rail have a choice, like a vote on the matter? What's happening here sounds like nobody has a choice in the matter, and that it's a done deal that a union will be representing them.