Urban Transit Systems

Light Rail Fare Collections Fall as Ridership Declines

  Fare collection for Metro light rail, like the system's ridership, is trending in the wrong direction. The system brought in an estimated $547,294 in March, says Metro Light Rail. That's slightly higher than the $528,000 it collected in February (more days in the mont ... More >>

Photography at Transit Station Can Merit Inquiry by Security Officers, Police Say

Phoenix police confirmed on Tuesday that a local photographer was questioned in late March for taking pictures at a transit station -- and that such questioning is routine. Following a police memo put out last May, Phoenix security officers have been contacting people observed observed taking p ... More >>

Hoping to See Kid Rock and Ride the Light Rail Home? Fear Not

Fear not, Festival goers! Valley Metro has your back...for two nights.For an unprecedented third time since its December launch, the Metro Light Rail will be extending its hours to accommodate those patrons of the Tempe Music Festival (April 3rd & 4th) hoping to catch either night's later ... More >>

Light Rail to Extend Hours for Tempe Music Festival

Declaring that "special events are drivers of ridership," Metro Light Rail CEO Rick Simonetta today announced extended hours for the April 3 and 4 Tempe Music Festival. Instead of the last train leaving at 11 p.m., as usual, east- or westbound riders can depart from the 3rd Street and Mill ... More >>

Hot Links: Light Rail, Meth Salon, and Pelosi's Capitol Cats

A spokesman for APS says the company's seen a 45 percent increase in power thefts, with people running cables to utility lines or neighbors' homes. APS says high jacking power is not only illegal, but dangerous, and vows to prosecute power thieves. SRP, on the other hand, reports that power thefts a ... More >>

Light Rail Ridership Up Slightly in February; Metro Still Lagging in Releasing Fare Data

Light rail ridership went up slightly in February, driven by an apparent increase in the number of commuters using the 20-mile system. The estimated daily average of boardings in February was 32,430, higher than January's estimate of 29,415. Helping the system out was about 5,000 extra&nbs ... More >>

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 >>

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 >>

Light Rail Collision Nets Bus Driver a Ticket for Running Red Light

Contrary to speculation in several media outlets, including ABC-15 News (KNXV) and the Arizona Republic, the driver of a bus that hit a light rail train yesterday did not have a green light, police said. The Orbit bus driver received a citation today for running a red light at Lemon a ... More >>

Light Rail Issues Few Citations to Freeloaders So Far, But Fare Pass Checkers Out in Force

A few citations have already been handed out to freeloaders trying to ride the light rail without paying the fare, says Valley Metro spokesman Hillary Foose. She expects to provide the number to media outlets next week. "The number of people who have been fare-evading has been extremely minimal ... More >>

This is What Happens to Bikes Locked Up Near the Light Rail in Tempe

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 >>

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 >>

Four Light Rail Cars to be Wrapped with NBA Advertising

Four light rail cars will sport more color and flash after they're wrapped with ads promoting the NBA's upcoming 2009 All-Star game. Look for media coverage of the trains on Monday, when Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon introduces the first ad-covered car at the Metro Operations and Maintena ... More >>

Won Tons at China Chili Make a Cheap, Tasty Lunch

  Sometimes you find an appetizer so good it passes for the main event -- and these days (time-crunched, wallet-crashed) that can be a very good thing. Such are the Boiled Won Tons at China Chili near downtown Phoenix. Served in a big bowl, the soup features ten pork dumplings ... More >>

Phoenix Light Rail T-Shirts: The New Hotness

I've always been a fan of public transit map shirts, bags and umbrellas. It's the classy way to show off from your vacay. I mean, it says "I went to this city" but also "See, I'm cool, not only did I hook up with some Dutch guy at my hostel, I rode a subway. How's that for a half-assed attempt to a ... More >>

Hot Links: Janet Napolitano Steps Down and Jan Brewer Steps Up; Peanut Butter Snacks Linked to Salmonella; Super Bowl Promos Could Bring Lawsuits

No mo' JaNo -- Janet Napolitano literally stands behind Barack Obama now, and Jan Brewer is our new governor. Conservatism, here we come. More warnings on peanut butter snacks. The NFL might come after you for using unauthorized Super Bowl-related promotional material -- does that include putting ... 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 >>

Tag You're It: The First Pics of Phoenix Light Rail Graffiti

This tagger ain't no Basquiat, but then again, it's only a tag... As was recently mentioned in a report by my colleague Ray Stern, the Phoenix PD has released images of some of the first graffiti ever on the Phoenix Metro Light Rail. And for this historic occasion, wherein the PMLR gets ... More >>

Jan. 16 In Blogs: Phil Gordon, SXSW, Rare Vox, Light Rail and More

We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Valley Fever: Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's Red-Light Violation Video Phoenix Light Ra ... 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. 

Light Rail Sit-in Called Off As Organizer Loses His Nerve

Is it just us, or have people in this town lost their balls? For instance, we reported on Wednesday about local photographer Morgan Bellinger's plan to stage a light rail sit-in later this month as a way to protest the fact that the trains stop running at midnight. But now he's pulled an complete ... More >>

Business Hopes Light Rail Will Provide Customers -- the Hard Way

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 >>

District Offers Discount to Light Rail Riders

Everybody's doing it, man. Riding the light rail, that is. Whether for a daily commute or just a joy ride, people seem to be packing the cars, and it's not even the free ride period anymore. The folks at District, the restaurant at the downtown Sheraton, hope even more people get into it for environ ... More >>

Graffiti on the Light Rail? Hey, I Told You So...

If these two were around today in P-town, the knuckledraggin' KTAR-types'd shoot 'em on sight: Keith Haring (above) and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Ah, let the provincialism roll like a mighty wave of something brown through our benighted Valley, where every time someone hacks a loogie or lets fly an a ... More >>

Light Rail Cream Ale, Anyone?

Saturday afternoon. The light rail trains are packed. It's a good time for a pint. So some friends and I wound up at Sonora Brewhouse, just a few blocks' walk from the train. And look at what was there to tempt us before we even got in the door -- a cute handpainted sign advertising Light Rail Crea ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Light Rail, Club Candids, Night Train and More

Welcome back! We hope you had a sufficient amount of ho-ho-hoing and present opening to last another twelve months. Just in case you haven't, here's a package of some of the stories and photos you may have missed during the holiday.  Light Rail Launch Hundreds of thousands turned out to celebrate ... More >>

Roger Clyne Delivers Solid Show At Frustrating Light Rail Debut

Valley Metro pulled out all the stops for yesterday's debut of the 20-mile light rail system we've been writing about all month. They had parties scheduled at pretty much every stop on the line -- though, honestly, I'm not sure there was anything beyond an unmanned purple tent full of fliers at the ... More >>

A Rundown of Today's Light Rail Celebrations (Both Official and Unofficial)

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers are scheduled to perform this afternoon at the "Destination Tempe" celebration at the Tempe Transportation Center."I hear the train a-comin'/It's rolling round the bend" -- Johnny Cash Plenty of partying is planned for today's long-awaited debut of the Valley Metro L ... 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 >>

Hot Links: Parents Remove Kids From School in Kidnapping-Plagued Juarez; Light Rail 11 p.m. Closing Irks People; Gunfight at Chandler Diamond Shop

The Mexican government can't figure out how to stop thugs from killing and kidnapping citizens. No wonder so many people want to flee the country. Still, there's no competing with the cycle of violence in the Middle East where Israel is threatening a large strike against the ... More >>

Night Train: Price-101 Freeway/Apache Boulevard (Stop #27)

Where: Bill's Market (2422 E Apache Blvd.) is a 30 second walk from the stop, directly north of the station.    Drink: Four MaXed Citrus. We'd never even heard of it before dropping by Bill's, but it's badass: A 16 oz. can of caffeinated malt liquor with a hefty 10% ABV for the bargain ... More >>

Hot Links: Light Rail Extensions Not Coming Soon Enough for Some; Gag Order Revised in St. Johns Murder Case; First State Flu Patient of Season Reported

Remember when folks were whining about light rail construction? (Okay, some of us still are.) The Repub reports this morning that a group of local residents and business owners are complaining loudly about project -- specifically, that it's not coming soon enough to their neighborhoods. This could b ... More >>

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

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

Wanted: A Positive Story About Light Rail in Phoenix

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

Michael Nowakowski’s unlikely Phoenix City Council win puts him on Big Money’s radar

Scenes From a Mall

Et tu, Orange Julius?

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

Sorry, We're Closed

Downtown businesses are struggling to stay afloat

The Gay Blade

Tom Simplot and his sexuality are exactly what Phoenix needs

Brotherly Love Fest

Philly journalist Don Russell hates Phoenix. Even though he's never been here.

Spiked

A wealthy jerk and uninspired name calling