Light Rail Blues - Part Two

In "Light Rail Blues - Part 1" I examined the genesis of our now under construction light rail system here in the Phoenix Metro area. But here's a brief recap anyway, just in case you haven't read that article, or in case you have read it, but forgot what I said. By the way, if you did read it, but forgot what I said, there's no need to feel ashamed. I wrote it myself, just twenty-four hours ago, and have already forgotten what I said. Hold on a minute while I go back and read it.

Okay, I'm back. Here's the gist of what I said:

1. A long time ago, Phoenix had a trolley system, the rails being in the streets.
2. Cars became more popular, and started to need more of the street.
3. Something had to be done.
4. The trolley was perceived to be irrelevant and inconvenient, and was removed.
5. The streets became clogged with cars, and travel became impeded.
6. Something had to be done.
7. A freeway system was built. It soon became clogged.
8. Something had to be done.
9. New freeway funding was authorized, but light rail had to be built.

Here is my description of the light rail system, the result of the most recent assertion that something had to be done.

"Our light rail system is being built at grade level. In the middle of the street. Along currently existing bus lines. Where traffic is already crowded."

So let's examine what all of this means to us, the citizens of our fair Metropolis.

First of all, grade level is commonly meant to mean "on the surface." So a light rail system at grade level, in the middle of the street, will obviously take up room that was previously occupied by automotive traffic. In most places, the streets are not being widened to any appreciable degree, so there will be less room for cars. Less room can also be translated into "slower speeds." The light rail trains will also have to move at slower speeds. Which is not much of an inducement to get people who wanted to get there five minutes ago to get on the train.

The design of the light rail system, being that it is in the middle of the street will have other effects that will impede traffic. Moving a car from one side of the street will become problematic. Where previous medians allowed crossovers to occur perhaps every block or so, the barriers separating the light rail from the cars will generally increase distances between crossovers, to as much as half a mile in some places.

Not very convenient, is it? But, keep in mind, something had to be done.

Now, although I commented that the light rail is being along currently existing bus lines, I must apologize if I have given you the impression that I consider this to be a design flaw or defect in the system. I don't. To me, it makes sense to build transportation systems along already existing traffic corridors, as these are the very corridors that people are already using. We already know that people along these corridors want to get from wherever they are to wherever they want to go.

But will people eschew the bus, and hop on the train? And more importantly, will people along the corridor who are not already using the bus get on the train?

Well, that all depends on certain factors. If the buses are left in place, maybe current users will remain on the bus, especially if there is a fare differential. Also, people, many times being creatures of narrow habit, have a tendency to continue to use something that works, unless the new thing is clearly superior, and provides additional desired benefits.

Yes, I know that many of you may wish to argue with me on this point, citing how fast many people trade in their cars, or buy new computers, or cells phones, etc., using this as evidence that I am wrong about people resisting the adoption of a new system, and therefore argue that people will drop-kick the bus and hop on the train.

However, keep in mind that "superior" and "additional benefits" are subjective. I think we all know someone who traded a three year old car with fifty thousand miles, for this year's model, because to them, "subjectively", a car with fewer miles and more cup holders, is "superior" and provides "greater benefits" such as "enhanced reliability." But let's be objectively honest: a new car is really no more reliable than a well maintained three year old. Let the odometer turn 100K, and then we'll talk.

So, I still think a lot of people will stay on the bus.

But what about the people not currently using the bus. Will they get on the train? Talk to anyone who tells you they will use the train. Ask them why they aren't currently using the bus. Whatever excuse they use to justify not using the bus, ask them how the train will be different as to that aspect. Show them why they are wrong. Then laugh at them, on the inside, mind you, as they start to squirm.

Here's an example of such an exchange:

Q: "Why don't you ride the bus?"

A: "It doesn't go where I want to go."

Q: "But doesn't the train follow existing bus routes?"

A: "Well, yes, I guess so, but..."

Q: "Why else?"

A: "It's so inconvenient, I'll have to walk to a stop, and wait for it to come."

Q: "Won't you have to do the same for the train?"

A: "Well, yes, I guess so, but..."

Q: "Why else?"

A: "It takes so long to get where I want to go."

Q: "But won't the train move only as fast as the bus?"

A: "Well, yes, I guess so, but..."

Q: "Why else?"

A: "Well, I don't like associating with the kind of people who ride the bus."

Q: "Doesn't this make you an elitist, possibly racist, person?"

A: "Well, yes, I guess so, but..."

Try it out yourself. It's fun.

But people will still claim that light rail is good, because something had to be done.

As for traffic crowding, well, do you really think that, given people's fascination with cars, light rail will take enough cars off the street to appreciably change this? I don't.

But what the heck, isn't it true that something had to be done?

Sure, but was this the right way to go about doing something? In part three, I'll give you my opinion as to what might have been a better way to accomplish that something.

But keep in mind, opinions are like armpits. Everyone's got a couple, and they usually stink.

Sincerely,

The Cab Guy