Talk:Valley Metro Rail

Requests for more information

I'd like to ask that some "in the know" people add some dates. For example, when funding was approved, construction began, stations finished, etc. Chrysrobyn (talk) —Preceding undated comment was added at 16:17, 5 January 2009 (UTC).

Station descriptions

When adding stations, ensure they look like the Central Avenue at Encanto Boulevard article. It will be nice to have everything consistent. Eddiejensen 07:25, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Please also use the Valley Metro templates as described in Template_talk:S-line ... I used the color Red as the line generally follows the current Red Line bus... the color lines were intended to eventually transition to rapid transit. - Wlindley (talk) 19:22, 19 February 2008 (UTC)

Station names

I have added a list of proposed simplified common station names, referring to nearby landmarks as is done in most other cities, at Template_talk:PHXLightRail Wlindley (talk) 17:22, 21 February 2008 (UTC)

It's METRO Light Rail

Never was it called Valley Metro Rail. It is, to be quite honest, quite a weird name and obviously bestowed upon by a person not living in Arizona. Please use the term METRO Light Rail, which is also the official name of the project. Arbiteroftruth 16:17, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

The web site says Valley Metro Light Rail. Do you think that's derogatory to use the full name? Lighten up sissypants. 68.180.38.31 (talk) 05:56, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

The early name was Valley Metro Rail. Their manhole covers clearly say VMR. And here's a souvenir of the groundbreaking, clearly labeled Valley Metro Rail: [1] Wlindley (talk) 18:43, 28 May 2008 (UTC) And here's a photo of Phoenix Mayor Rimsza with the "Valley Metro Rail" logo: [2] Wlindley (talk) 15:23, 29 July 2008 (UTC)

Farebox recovery ratio

At a 2007-05-16 meeting, the Valley Metro board pegged a 25% recovery ratio (Valley Metro Board of Directors (2007-05-16). "Meeting Minutes" (PDF). p. 4. Retrieved 2008-02-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help))... not the 33% as claimed in the main article. The linked Arizona Republic article ([3] is offline, does anyone have the name of the article or other citation? Wlindley (talk) 17:59, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

Lane removed? Projected riders?

Were the streets where this runs reduced by a lane? That's important, in that this pork project will increase congestion. Each remaining lane will carry 50% more vehicles then. Will be there redundant buses on the streets?

How many passengers are there suppose to be? 68.180.38.31 (talk) 05:53, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Central Avenue, and Washington and Jefferson Streets, were redesigned and reconstructed. Traffic is now flowing better on those streets than in their former configurations.

Official estimates (from original, circa 2000 data) are around 26,000 passengers. Based on recent experiences in cities like Salt Lake City, high gasoline prices, and the new ASU Downtown campus, however, actual ridership may be far higher. Wlindley (talk) 18:43, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Or far lower. The agencies planning these things tend to inflate the expectations a bit to justify their construction.--Loodog (talk) 18:56, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Charlotte, NC: 35% above projections. Salt Lake City: 15,000 projected, 40,000 actual. Minneapolis, MN: 100% above projections. What data are you looking at, loodog? Wlindley (talk) 15:47, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

APM separate article?

Should we separate the Sky Harbor APM info into another article... or suggestions on how to tie it in with the Sky Harbor page? 65.39.84.242 (talk) 21:18, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Separate article. This one is about a light rail system while the APM is a people mover. I'm doing it now.--Loodog (talk) 23:58, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Train speed and trip times

Agree with loodog's recent correction regarding travel time and train speed. We need clarification of top train speed, as well as "average" (endpoint-to-endpoint) route trip time, especially as it compares to existing Red Line buses. Some reports say top rail speed is equal to roadway speed; other reports say somewhat higher. Wlindley (talk) 20:16, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Comparison to road speed isn't relevant, the average speed is guaranteed to be lower anyway. The trains will go as fast as they have the time and space to accelerate to. Top speed is given by the specs of the rolling stock, but the trains will rarely, if ever, go this fast. The most meaningful figure that can be figure is an average speed for the whole trip, which I'm guessing will be around 20mph.--Loodog (talk) 20:42, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

I've found some numbers in their pamphlet and used them: 55mph max, and 25 mph average during rush hour, which I have to say, isn't bad for a light rail system. The Baltimore Light Rail was built in the 90s and averages 22mph.--Loodog (talk) 20:48, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Because trains will replace the Red Line, the only relevant speed comparison is elapsed ride time from Christown to Dobson (endpoint-to-endpoint) -- even if the routes are somewhat different (Red Line via University and Sky Harbor, trains via Washington/Jefferson). Redid my earlier explanation paying attention to citations.Wlindley (talk) 04:58, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

It's invalid because the bus route isn't from the same two places. It's a longer route by about a mile, so any comparison of times will exaggerate how much faster the train will be.--Loodog (talk) 14:39, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Rolling stock?

I don't recognise the model of tram depicted in the photo, so who are supplying the rolling stock for this system? David Arthur (talk) 19:42, 13 July 2008 (UTC)

Kinki-Sharyo. Wlindley (talk) 19:03, 5 January 2009 (UTC)

Measuring units

Exactly why are kilometres cited before miles in the discussion about top and average speeds of rolling stock? Leaving politically-sensitive issues of metrication aside, the SI units seem to be conversions of the original round numbers in customary units, not vice-versa. Why don't we stick with US measurements first (then SI conversions) on articles on US topics, and vice-versa for officially metric jurisdictions like Canada and Britain? Ectuohy (talk) 04:40, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Operating times

The article should probably include when the Light Rail begins and ceases operation for the day, especially since this is almost impossible to find on Valley Metro's website.