Baseball & Light Rail

[O]

I went to the game today and rode the Light Rail there and back. It was packed both ways with Dback's fans. Drops you off right in front of the stadium. Very cool.
For those going to games in the future I highly recommend it.

 

[HooverDam]

I had to work today so I couldn't go to the game, but I happened to be driving by the Main St and Sycamore station at about 11:15AM and the station was packed- great to see! Everyone was there in their D'backs duds. When I go to D'backs games this year, I'll definitely bee riding the train from my place in Tempe to downtown.

Now lets countdown to an AzCentral style anti LRT cavemen level of thought post by someone 3...2...1...

 

[O]

Now lets countdown to an AzCentral style anti LRT cavemen level of thought post by someone 3...2...1...

 

[Mrh182]

here's the real question...

How many of these people do you think actually paid for the lightrail ticket?

I always pay for mine, but I've seen countless times where I'm sitting on the station and 5-10 people just walk up and get on... the honor system isnt a money maker.

Add to the fact I've been on the train with a car full of police officers and the guy that hands out tickets and none of them checked to verify people had theirs.

 

[HooverDam]

No transportation system is a money maker. How much money does the 101 or 51 make?

 

[O]

here's the real question...

How many of these people do you think actually paid for the lightrail ticket?

I always pay for mine, but I've seen countless times where I'm sitting on the station and 5-10 people just walk up and get on... the honor system isnt a money maker.

So I initally buy an all day ticket or I had just come from a bus or I have a monthly pass;
That means I just walk up and get on.

 

[PoolBoy]

here's the real question...

How many of these people do you think actually paid for the lightrail ticket?

I always pay for mine, but I've seen countless times where I'm sitting on the station and 5-10 people just walk up and get on... the honor system isnt a money maker.

Add to the fact I've been on the train with a car full of police officers and the guy that hands out tickets and none of them checked to verify people had theirs.

ASU students ride for free, so that might be SOME of those people. Quick question...from Sun Devil Stadium, how long does it take the lightrail to get to Chase Field?

 

[HooverDam]

ASU students ride for free, so that might be SOME of those people. Quick question...from Sun Devil Stadium, how long does it take the lightrail to get to Chase Field?

Not factoring in your wait at the stations, about 20 minutes.

I've found theres a decent variation in light rail drivers right now. I think this will be smoothed out over time, but right now some are super smooth and fast, others are herky jerky, stay too long at stations, etc.

 

[RedStorm]

here's the real question...

How many of these people do you think actually paid for the lightrail ticket?

I always pay for mine, but I've seen countless times where I'm sitting on the station and 5-10 people just walk up and get on... the honor system isnt a money maker.

Add to the fact I've been on the train with a car full of police officers and the guy that hands out tickets and none of them checked to verify people had theirs.

I was wondering the same thing and said so to my wife. We paid for both our tickets yesterday and two for my kids yet none of us was checked. My wife was surprised as she is from DC and you have to validate your ticket to get on the train.

 

[Mulli]

I was wondering the same thing and said so to my wife. We paid for both our tickets yesterday and two for my kids yet none of us was checked. My wife was surprised as she is from DC and you have to validate your ticket to get on the train.

i am surprised about it. I wonder if this is a way to get more to try using it or something. Free trains? Who ever heard of such a thing. No way that honor system is tried in other big cities.

 

[O]

No way that honor system is tried in other big cities.

Actually it is, Dallas in particular comes to mind.

 

[Mulli]

Actually it is, Dallas in particular comes to mind.

I suppose. Never see such a thing in NYC or Chicago.

 

[HooverDam]

i am surprised about it. I wonder if this is a way to get more to try using it or something. Free trains? Who ever heard of such a thing. No way that honor system is tried in other big cities.

This same system is also used in St Louis and SLC and nearly ever city that has a Light Rail system similar to ours.

If you think about it, how else would it be done? Its not a subway, so you can't really have turn styles (and NYC still has turn style jumping) because people could just walk around them. It would be a huge labor cost to have someone checking everyone getting on. You do have to validate/activate your ticket before you get on (the machine does it for you). There's just really no sensible way to make sure 100% of the people are paying.

Either way, its irrelevant, NYCs system is far and away the most used in the country and it doesn't cover its cost with its fares, Phoenix's isn't going to either. Rail transit still moves more people, for less cost, using less resources, emitting less greenhouses gases, requiring less eminent domain than highways, and thats the important thing.

 

[Mulli]

This same system is also used in St Louis and SLC and nearly ever city that has a Light Rail system similar to ours.

If you think about it, how else would it be done? Its not a subway, so you can't really have turn styles (and NYC still has turn style jumping) because people could just walk around them. It would be a huge labor cost to have someone checking everyone getting on. You do have to validate/activate your ticket before you get on (the machine does it for you). There's just really no sensible way to make sure 100% of the people are paying.

Either way, its irrelevant, NYCs system is far and away the most used in the country and it doesn't cover its cost with its fares, Phoenix's isn't going to either. Rail transit still moves more people, for less cost, using less resources, emitting less greenhouses gases, requiring less eminent domain than highways, and thats the important thing.

fair enough. I am glad to hear you can take it to Dbacks game. Next up, Cards games.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

fair enough. I am glad to hear you can take it to Dbacks game. Next up, Cards games.

It would take 2.5-3 hours from Mesa to Cards games. Imagine taking all of our tailgating gear on the light rail... lol

 

[Mulli]

It would take 2.5-3 hours from Mesa to Cards games. Imagine taking all of our tailgating gear on the light rail... lol

About 45 minutes to soldier field from my place. Hope cards v bears is early in year

 

[HooverDam]

fair enough. I am glad to hear you can take it to Dbacks game. Next up, Cards games.

Well Glendale is being ******** and wants to changed the originally planned alignment, so getting the line out to Westgate is going to be a while. The original idea was to run it north on 19th Ave then West on Glendale Ave. This would connect near NW Phoenix to downtown Glendale, and then to Westgate. It would also mean huge Transit Oriented Development opportunities between Downtown Glendale and Westgate, that are could grow into the Camelback Cooridor or the West side.

Glendale however, in their infinite short sighted ways wants to run the line West along the I-10, then North along the 101. The reason for this is, most of that land sits in Phoenixs boundaries and Phoenix would be paying for it. It also would get people to Westgate quicker, but of course it would come at the expense of the rest of Glendale.

But hey, this is coming from the same city that wants to turn down an economic engine like an Indian Casino right in the middle of their city, so what else should I expect?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

About 45 minutes to soldier field from my place. Hope cards v bears is early in year

Doesn't really matter to me. Linda will want it to be earlier too.