Transportation

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, September 2, 2010

We Have the Light Rail. Does That Mean Phoenix Is a Metropolis Now?

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday -- Take Off Your Pants and Ride the Light Rail

www.raillife.com A scene from last year's "No Pants AZ Light Rail Ride"​It's back!As part of Improv Everywhere's "Ninth Annual No Pants! Subway Ride," this Sunday will be the second annual "No Pants AZ Light Rail Ride."Not familiar with the event? No problem -- the concept is simple. First, ... More >>

Flight Attendants for US Air to Picket at Sky Harbor Friday

​Flight attendants for US Airways aren't too thrilled with some of the working conditions after the 2005 merger with America West Airlines and they plan to let management know Friday morning, when they picket at Sky Harbor Airport.

Undead and Loving It

Why lurch when you can travel in style?

Laid-Off Light Rail Operators Protest Cuts

Bob Bean (right) is among the union protestors at Central Station this morning.​A dozen or so light rail operators protested at the Central Station in downtown Phoenix this morning, holding hand-made signs that excoriated both Metro Light Rail and the Boston-based company that manages the line, AC ... More >>

Valley Metro Sees 15 Percent Increase in Ridership

wikipedia.com​The piss poor economy is driving people across the Valley to the poorhouse, and apparently, they're taking the light rail to get there.Despite the struggling economy, Valley Metro ridership is up 15 percent from last year, partly due to the addition of the light rail, but also becaus ... More >>

Phoenix's Light-Rail Cities Receive $90 Million Reimbursement from Feds

www.valleymetro.org (image on left)​The hundreds of millions of dollars the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa fronted for the federal portion of the Light Rail Transit Project will soon be almost completely repaid, thanks to a $90 million reimbursement from the federal government. The $587. ... More >>

Pissy US Airways Pilot Plans to Continue Fight Against Flight Attendants

Victor J. PalaganoFlight attendants Paula Walker, Brian Shunick, and Sue Burris He's baaaaaaaaack!Four months after a Superior Court judge unceremoniously tossed a libel suit filed by an unhappy U.S. Airways pilot, we've gotten word that the pilot, Ed Gannon, will be appealing the decision.Can' ... More >>

Metro and Valley Metro Honored for Helping People With Disabilities

  The Arizona Disability Advocacy Coalition, which has numerous Valley organizations as members, is giving Metro Light Rail and Valley metro an award for helping the disabled. Valley Metro runs the Valley's buses and oversees the light rail system. The public transportation agencies were chos ... More >>

The Crash Heard Round the World

Writer discusses aviation-altering disaster

Metro Seeks Input on Plan for Interstate 10 Light Rail Stations

Image: Metro Light Rail You can help guide the Valley's transportation future at a public forum on Wednesday to discuss how the light-rail system will connect and run alongside Interstate 10 West. The sequel to the successful launch of the 20-mile starter line is still in the planning phase, but Met ... More >>

Light Rail Service to be Tested by Crowds on Wednesday; Obama and D-backs Cause Service Changes

Light rail trains will not be allowed to run past Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday because of President Obama's commencement speech. Metro Light Rail says shuttle buses will serve as a "bridge" around the service gap.On top of that, thousands of peo ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, April 30, 2009

Metro Light Rail Operators Don't Have a Contract — Just Grueling Schedules and Smelly Passengers

The Three US Airways Attendants Have Been Vindicated, So Why Doesn’t the Company Have Their Back?

Light Rail Electric Bill for January was 38 Percent of Fare Revenue; System Took in Estimated 69 Cents Per Rider

The electric bill for the Metro light rail system is slightly different than yours, naturally. For one thing, it's not just one bill -- it's about 125 separate bills. There are bills for each station, bills for the juice in the overhead lines that make the 90-foot-long, 50-ton rail cars move ar ... More >>

Pilot's Suit Against Whistleblowing Flight Attendants Tossed by Judge

  Victor J. Palagano III Flight attendants Paula Walker, Brian Shunick, and Sue Burris have been vindicated by the judge's ruling.Score one for safety. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Louis Araneta last week dimissed a U.S. Airways pilot's lawsuit against three fligh ... More >>

Light Rail Ridership in First Month Far Short of Capacity; Fare-Collection Data Not Released

Sure, one way to look at it is that light-rail ridership "is off to a positive start," as a Valley Metro news release opines. Or, as the Arizona Republic put it this morning in a headline, "Rail ridership tops expectations."That's the glass-half-full version of the story.In fact, the "average weekda ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, February 5, 2009

Joe Arpaio Caves, Backs Off Dumbass Plan to Transport Inmates Via Light Rail

Sheriff Joe: He puts the CON into "Con Rail."Has Sheriff Joe's well-oiled media machine finally blown up in his aged face? Will Lisa Allen have to revert to grooming dogs full instead of part time, and leave Arpaio's upkeep to another PR handler? Below is the latest press release from the MCSO, back ... More >>

Three US Airways Flight Attendants Are Paying the Price for Speaking Up When They Thought Their Plane Was at Risk

Joe Arpaio's Outrage Du Jour: Transporting His Prisoners Via Light Rail (w/Update)

For the uninitiated, "Arpayaso" is a play on the word "payaso," which means "clown" in Spanish.Do you need another reminder that you live in a police state controlled by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his brown-shirted goons? If so, just take a trip on the Valley Metro Light Rail, which our clownish top con ... More >>

The Top 10 Reasons Light Rail Should Run 'Til 2 A.M.

The Phoenix Metro Light Rail has been the talk of the town since voters approved the $1.4 billion project in 2000. The public transit system opened on December 27, and Valley denizens have both praised and bemoaned the rail. The most common complaint is that Light Rail service stops at midnight, but ... More >>

To Anyone Thinking the Light Rail is No Fun: Try Taking Off Your Pants

For seven years now New York improve troop Improv Everywhere has celibrated their own holiday on the New York subway system called No Pants Day. On January 10th Phoenix residents were finaly able to join the Holiday on our new Light Rail. 

Things I Learned Riding the 'Rail

I rode the light rail for the first time last night, from downtown Phoenix to downtown Tempe and back again. For my money (which is to say, free, because I have a student pass that allows me to ride public transit to my hearts content) it was a most excellent experience. A few things I learned:

'Til 2: Staging a Sit-In To Protest Light Rail's Early Closing Time

The fervor over the light rail's early closing time continues to get bigger. As we've previously written about here and here, a growing number of Valley urbanites are pissed off over the fact the light rail system stops at midnight instead of running until 2 a.m. and providing the drinking cro ... More >>

Twentysomethings Are Out Protesting The Light Rail's Midnight Stop Time

The mobile protesting pair of Erin Searle (left) and Kevin Sweet at the light rail's Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street station. It's not all sunshine and roses at crowded light rail stations today. Kevin Sweet and Erin Searle, a pair of college-aged sweethearts, are out protesting the fact the l ... More >>

Local Politicians and Journalists Help Test Out Light Rail Before Tomorrow's Grand Opening

From left: Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, and light rail CEO Richard Simonetta. Mesa Mayor Scott Smith called Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman a game show host, light rail CEO Richard Simonetta called Spawn's Todd McFarlane "Scott," and Hallman called potential light rail vandals pig ... More >>

Help Keep The Light Rail Running Past Midnight

Downtown Phoenix Scenesters Vent to City Officials that Light-Rail Service Should be Extended Past Midnight on Weekends

Feedback from the issue of Thursday, September 18, 2008

Downtown Phoenix scenesters want the light rail to run past midnight (and so should you)

Wanted: A Positive Story About Light Rail in Phoenix

Taken for a (Bus) Ride

A French transit firm wins a no-bid deal with Phoenix, and taxpayers are left without a transfer

Letters From the Issue of Thursday, January 11, 2007

Stop Your Railing!

Sure, light-rail construction is painful, but it will be worth it in the long haul

Head Rolls Finally

A Valley Metro Rail manager's fired after New Times confronts the agency about ignoring complaints that she'd pressured contractors to hire a particular firm

Rail Against the Machine

A long-hidden allegation of impropriety is finally about to be investigated

Remains of the Day

More than a dozen Indian burials have been discovered during light-rail construction

Bullet Train to Vegas

We Put Scissors Where Our Mouths Are
(Nitro Records)

Fly Girls

Check out the babes on board

Letters 03-23-2000

Traffic Thicket

Will Phoenix voters finally get onboard a transit plan?

Trainplotting

Transit-plan backers say they see a bus in your future--so how come they've been working on the railroad?

Carr Wrecks

Richard Carr, president of a firm that wants to build the $350 million South Mountain Toll Road, has extensive experience in "public-private partnerships." Unfortunately, most of those experiences have been bad.

My Dog Is Lost! Details at 10.

Why you shouldn't own a dog that won't fit under the seat in front of you

Mill Rats

MOVING MOUNTAINSA PROPOSED TOLL ROAD AROUND SOUTH MOUNTAIN WOULD SLICE THROUGH RIDGES

Maglev Comes To Phoenix

Don't get too excited, commuters. It's only a license plate--so far.