In the past year, I’ve selected light rail often for my transit needs. School. Work. Pleasure. Whining about one of the few progressive step in a decidedly unprogressive town strikes me as unproductive. However, I can’t leave what I’ve noticed unsaid (and my car-driving friends could care less), so what follows is a considered critique.
Schedule, what schedule?
Once upon a time in the desert, light rail officials told of a future when commuters wouldn’t have to consult a schedule or rush after trains. Rather, trains would arrive every 8-10 minutes.
About a year later, as I wait for a train, I am greeted by station placards with different peak-hour, non peak-hour, Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday schedules. What happened to simplicity? With only one route, a one-size fits all approach would be most appropriate, and might attract more regular users.
Pick a verb, any verb
Early light rail users were encouraged to “Tap It!” Juvenile snickering aside, the command was a very poor instruction on how to use fare cards. Despite having years to plan and market an appropriate slogan, riders were left explaining to each other how to make a fare card work. This wasn’t a big deal, until I saw folks with valid cars hauled off trains by overzealous police assistants with asses tighter than even Eddie Murphy can describe.
The freshly-printed “Tap It!” signs were eventually scrapped for “Touch, Hold and Go” signs after only a few months, in a gloriously pathetic waste of funds.
The unofficial, official stop
Anyone who goes from Phoenix to Tempe/Mesa regularly has had the following experience: the train comes to a dead stop at 51st Street, leaving you with a view of Le Girls Nude Cabaret, and if you are lucky, a stripper screaming at someone on her cell after getting off the early shift.
Why is this? At one time, conductor changes would happen at 44th Street, with a Valley Metro car or van waiting for the departing conductor to take back to headquarters on South 51st Street. This 1 mile drive must have been too onerous, because conductors soon took to parking the train at 51st St (not an official stop, mind you), with the departing conductor turning off the train (and AC in the summer) while the incoming conductor pried open the doors with a special key.
Definitely the appearance of a first-class operation, folks.
Your tax dollars not at work
The above are practical problems, which could be turned around rather painlessly. However, there is a much bigger problem looming, relating to decade-long recession currently staring the Valley in the face. Already, the first branch of the light rail expansion – planned to extend the west-end of the tracks from Spectrum Mall to within walking distance of MetroCenter, a very useful traffic hub – has been delayed indefinitely. Now, when I look at the long-term plans for light rail, I have gotten in the habit of adding 5, 10 or 15 years to the anticipated start date.
Other issues
Being a quirky guy, I find some minor things a bit more off-putting than others. For instance, why can’t the trains show the time on the scrolling media screens? I know there must be a fascinating social psychology study that caused Valley Metro to abstain from this practice, but here in reality some people would like to know the time, even if the operators are running late.
Also, where are the ads? In a bad economy, the cities should be selling every part of the trains and train stations for extra income. Screw aesthetics, those went out the window when light rail construction failed to help revitalize some of the route’s more “economically challenged” areas. That’s reminds me of one last suggestion: try putting some stops in South Phoenix, rather than pretending it doesn’t exist.
Final thoughts
A common theme throughout this post has been unfulfilled promise. I certainly understand the counter-arguments: that the hopes of urbane Phoenicians are being unfairly heaped by the gallon on light rail, that Phoenix is not all the conducive to mass transit in the first place (more on that some other time). Still, I certainly hoped for something much more useful and user-friendly then I currently operating.
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