Here and Now: Transportation, Legislature

What's being done about the horrible traffic in the NW valley? I'd like to see light rail extended here much sooner. Or better yet, commuter rail? Help! I am sick of all the traffic. Now, if we can only do something about the blue hair drivers.

I've lived in the Bay area, San Diego and D.C. and found it much easier to use BART, the Trolley and the Metro to get around. Two problems I see here. The valley is spread out. The other is the heat. I won't wait in the heat for public transit in the valley. I doubt others will too.

I'm all for commuter rail, expanding freeways--whatever we can do to improve transportation. I foresee one problem. How are we going to pay for it. I'd like to see your guests address an issue that nobody wants to talk about.

I would like to use the bus or light raill, but I've got places to go and kids to drop off, and public transit is not condusive to my lifestyle. I'm not going to walk 4 blocks to the nearest bus stop--especially when it's as hot as it is now. Let's focus on what the majority of us use--our cars!!!

It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to put up with constant construction everywhere to just try to catch up to todays congestion problems. If, or when a piece of freeway is planned or built to alleviate tomorrows problems, the city's approve mass developments that are built now and the freeways are filled again within a year. Why does it appear that our valley lacks planners and that the apparent goal of our civic leaders is to make Arizona as inhospitable as they possibly can?

I understand that, years ago, George Johnson (the developer of Johnson Ranch, south of Queen Creek), proposed building a passenger rail station. It apparently didn't get much support back then. Is there currently any consideration being given by the State DOT or the Governor's Regional Transportation Task Force (sic?) to resurrect that idea?
I believe this Union Pacific Line runs all the way from Tucson, through the Queen Creek/SE Valley,(along Rittenhouse Rd.) to the Sky Harbor Airport and to downtown Phoenix and beyond.

Reviewing and adjusting the timing of traffic lights within Phx would do wonders to eliminate carbon emissions. Why does this seem to be a nearly impossible task, who is responsible for this and who can we contact?

What is the chance of introducing more grade seperation projects like they did on Grand Ave in the West valley? Light timing has so many variables that it almost never works for a majority of drivers. These projects seem to greatly improve traffic flow.

New freeways will not solve the transportation problem. What is needed is a mass transit system worth the name. Most of all commuter trains with connecting buses and light rail. It's plain ridicioulus to build more freeways. People have to wake up an realize that what works in all other cities around the world will work here. We have a serious pollution problem and with more and more people moving here with more and more cars the pollution will just get worse if we don't get a transit system with short traveling times. The politicians have to wake up.

It is critical that we improve our public transit infrastructure. Roads can only go so far. In fact, there have been studies that show that the relief roads give are only temporary as roads simply attract more growth, more traffic and incentivize people to drive. I commute by valley Metro on a daily basis and I am basically satisfied with the system. What we need, however, is commuter rail,light rail, even BRT and transit oriented development. This would all be better for the long term health of valley residents than building yet another freeway or expanding the braodway curve to 24 lanes.

Express busses run into Phoenix in the morning and out in the evening. I'd use it if I could get into Phoenix and then transition to an outbound bus to the north. As it is, a bus commute would take about 4 hours each way.

What about express busses around the perimeter of the valley?

I have been a Rapid bus rider for three years. I commute from the Park in Ride at 83rd and McDowell to the state Capitol. I find it allows me to read and relax both to and from work. It is an amazing service and needs 1) to be expanded and 2) a good PR campaign. Few folks know how well the system works. I only wish the Park and Ride was a bit closer to my house in Peoria.

How is art being used to enhance the experience of commuters and visitors on the mass transit system?

The arrogance of the average AZ commuter is staggering. Soccer Moms driving 2 blocks to drop off there kids (what ever happened to bikes?), Hummer after Hummer (need to drive a Hummer? Go to Iraq), clowns living in EBF and commuting to another EBF (just so they can say they live in beautiful EBF). Enough is enough.
There needs to be accountability. If you unecessarily add to this mess then you should pay, pay, pay.

Stem the tide. NOW!

Hello,
I am a daily public tranist user. I often wanted to ask why we are not doing more as far as updating the current bus stops in the valley?
I am tired of the media commercials stating that to help polution take public transport.
We live in Arizona for goodness sake and some of the bus stops have no shelter. This really bothers me, what can be done about this. on a hot day waiting for the bus you have to scouer for shade even if it is far from the bus stop. This is ridiculos.

I don't believe it is asking for much to put more money in to this. shade shelter and appropriate seating at a bus stop. The light razil to me was not a good idea, we jumped build this rail when the busing system needs the most help. Outdated busses where in some cases the air does not work and always seeing them break done in the middle of hot days is there a place to state complaints.
Thank you
MonicaTempe arizona

I'd like to thank those of you who posted comments and questions. The level of knowledge and concern was tremendous.

I'm an ASU student and have been for a number of years. I didn't have a licence for 3 of those years and used the valley metro bus system frequently. The biggest complaint that I had with the service, was not the service itself but the people using the service. A week wouldn't go by that a driver wouldn't have a confrentation with someone who didn't want to pay the full fair, or waiting for the bus i would be solicited for money. What can the city do to help combat the mentality of the metro valley system being a (for lack of a better term) "lower class" transportation system when it clearly is?

Darryl has a good point--but why not connect the dots? It might make sense to run an express bus between major bus centers. The Red Line is a good bus, but with all the stops, it does not travel the distance as quick as desired.