Light-rail system test brings mixed reactions
by Dianna M. Náñez
The Arizona Republic
May. 9, 2008 03:00 PM

Light rail made its Tempe debut Wednesday and drew public reactions varying from disgust to delight.

A single train crossed Town Lake shortly after 1 p.m. and was tested throughout the afternoon along the rail track that cuts through downtown Tempe, across Mill Avenue and near Wells Fargo Arena. The train is in Tempe as part of expanded testing that began Tuesday in Phoenix. Each vehicle and light-rail components, including the power system, rail and signals, must be tested to meet safety and performance guidelines.

Tempe business owner and Queen Creek resident Dennis Sarfate, 53, watched the steel train as it crawled along the rail line behind the Tempe Police station on Fifth Street. A Tempe policeman provided security as light-rail workers followed the train.

"What a waste of taxpayer money," Sarfate said. "For half the money they could have built a real bus system. God knows this city needs some sort of traffic salvation. But this isn't going to work. No one's going to use it."

The light-rail price tag is $1.4 billion, with $587 million coming from federal funding.

Sarfate said he used to live in New York City and the bus system there would get him to about any neighborhood in short order. He said he would have preferred to see the Valley beef up its bus routes, add street cutouts so that the buses could stop outside of traffic and once a more expansive bus system was in place, commission a study to see if light rail was still needed.

As the train moved west to the transit shelter at Mill Avenue and Third Street it attracted the attention of bus riders.

"I think it's pretty exciting," said Phoenix resident Misti Chambers, 34. Chambers works at a Tempe law firm. She said she is anxiously awaiting light rail and has already mapped the bus route she will take to the nearest rail line.

"I'll take the McDowell bus to 44th Street, and the 44th Street bus up to Washington and light rail will drop me off right at Third Street and Mill - less than block from my work," she said.

Chambers said using the bus and rail is an economic choice for the mother of four.

"I've been riding the bus my whole life. I don't have a car, I can't afford it," she said.

Ignacio Cruz, 36, lives in Tempe and works at restaurant along the rail line in downtown Phoenix. He owns a car but said he chooses to ride the bus and will switch to light rail when it launches in December.

"I'll use it everyday," Cruz said. "Parking downtown is hard to find, and I don't want to pay for gas or parking."

Donald Rolfe, 30, said he cringed at the site of the light rail train. It brought back memories of the nightmare, he said, light rail created in Portland, Ore., where he lived.

"There was a devaluation of property, and it increased crime," he said. "It was a mess. It took over a dozen years to fix."

Rolfe said he lives in downtown Phoenix but said he would never use light rail because like many people he needs to travel throughout the Valley for work.

Hillary Foose, a light rail spokeswoman, said there were no major problems during the first days of expanded testing.

Jaywalkers crossing light rail face hefty fines
Dianna M. Náñez
The Arizona Republic
May 11, 2008 12:00 AM

Months before light rail makes its December debut, pedestrians and vehicles could face citations and hefty fines for crossing the tracks in the wrong spots.

Tempe police started verbally warning pedestrians two weeks ago that they must use designated crosswalks along the 4 miles of light-rail tracks that run through downtown Tempe, around Arizona State University and along Apache Boulevard.

But step outside the crosswalk or jaywalk across the track beginning Sept. 1, the week after ASU students return for the fall semester, and there could be a $156 fine.

Metro Light Rail officials and Tempe police said the warnings and fines are part of a public-safety effort to prepare people for trains traveling up to the posted speed limit on city streets beginning Dec. 27.

"We have to train them how to get around light rail long before it starts," said Howard Steere, Metro public-involvement manager. Metro is working with ASU to educate students and staff about light rail.

While Tempe police said they expect pedestrians to use crosswalks now, the risk of injuries involving the rail line has increased the need to clamp down on jaywalkers, said Brandon Banks, a police spokesman.

"Obviously, it's going to be new to everybody in the Valley. We want to start teaching people the importance of obeying all the light-rail traffic devices," he said.

Steere said Metro is working with Tempe and Phoenix traffic and police departments to study pedestrian and traffic patterns in high-traffic areas such as near ASU's fraternity row and Chase Field in downtown Phoenix.

Banks said the police probably would issue citations under a state statute, although it has not been decided.

"More than likely, it will be failure to obey a traffic-control device. That citation's typical fine is $156," he said.

Banks said the fine could change if the state decides to adopt a law specific to light-rail violations.

Hillary Foose, a Metro spokeswoman, said the agency is working with the Phoenix Police Department and the city's streets team to develop a "light-rail-specific ordinance."

The rail also will head about a mile into Mesa on Main Street. Diana Tapia, a Mesa Police spokeswoman, said the city also plans to enforce light-rail safety with verbal warnings, then shift to citations.

J.J. Fonville, 21, belongs to Sigma Nu Fraternity at Sixth Street and Alpha Drive in Tempe, across from Wells Fargo Arena and the light-rail track. Fonville was outraged to hear the fine could be so high.

"That's ridiculous, students can't afford that," he said.

Aside from the money, Fonville said he is more concerned with the safety campaign being realistic about the number of people who are not using crosswalks. He said even a large fine would not deter most people.

"People cross the rail in the street all the time. Especially people coming home who've been drinking. They're not going to pay attention to a sign. There's going to be an accident there," he said.

As part of the safety plan, cities are using landscaping to create natural barriers. However, Steere acknowledged that it would be some time before new vegetation grows.

He also said red warning lights and signs would be placed at key areas.

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