26 replies to this topic

[colin]

So Cal has the Coaster that goes from San Diego up to, I think, SLO (maybe further). You could always take that. Or, you've got Caltrain in the Bay Area that you can take from SF to San Jose.
But, unfortunately, in Arizona, Amtrak is a little useless and the only viable passenger rail service are our two tourist railroads at the Grand Canyon and in Verde Canyon.
I still find it hard to accept that high-speed rail can work in this country. I just don't think we're ready for it, and I would imagine some sort of high-speed boat (maybe like the hydrofoil in Hong Kong that goes to Macau) would be more viable in coastal states.

[nuplanner]

colin, you make a good point.  I would like to see high speed rail, but I think density is an issue with any forums of transit.  What this country has to do is get off of the auto dependent mindset, reconfigure the way we grow (smart growth) and reinvest in our city centers and older parts of town.  Arizona first need to get used to light rail, than commuter rail and move upward in transit.  

    Like other western cities that thought light rail would fail have seen a huge success in it.  Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas are all expanding there services and looking at or have commuter rail that connect with light rail lines.  

    Phoenix is so spread out that we need to get light rail going and being a success and develop commuter rail on the existing rail lines.  

    I personally would love to take a train to LA in about the same time it takes me to drive.

[traal]

nuplanner, on Jul 29 2007, 09:51 PM, said:

I personally would love to take a train to LA in about the same time it takes me to drive.

You can take Amtrak from Tucson to Los Angeles in not much longer than it takes to drive (10 hours 11 minutes vs. 7 hours 12 minutes driving). Unfortunately, Amtrak isn't even an option from Phoenix.

But the new (to Phoenix) Megabus is. If you book far enough ahead, it can be $1.50 total each way from Tempe to Los Angeles. For the difference in price between Megabus and Amtrak, taking the bus no longer sounds like such a bad idea.

If they put in that commuter line between Phoenix and Tucson, Tucson residents could also get to Los Angeles for, what, under $15?

[colin]

WTF?
$1!!! How do they make any money on that?? I mean, the gas alone costs at least $50 one-way let alone paying the driver for 7 hours. And then vehicle maintenance.

They mainly need a road-alternative between the two AZ metros. I don't know that many regularly travel between Tucson and LA.

[traal]

Well, that $1 deal is only for the first two seats sold for that particular trip. It's like how Skybus offers the first 10 seats on each flight for $10 each.

[traal]

From here to there, faster: High-speed rail needed for speedier future along the Tucson-Phoenix commute

The author suggests subsidizing the line, which would whisk passengers between the two cities in 45 minutes, with a toll on the I-10.

This coupled with some real Smart Growth planning in both Phoenix and Tucson might work, after many years and billions of dollars. But I don't see that happening unless the price of gas at least doubles again.

[tombarnes]

A successful rail system isn't going to magically pay for itself.  I'd think the prospect of unbridled growth in Arizona would make the idea of spending a few $$$ on a rail system more attractive.  A feasible rail system isn't going to hapen without both vision and commitment- and money, of courss.  Isn't a rail link between Tucson and Phoenix something which would work?  I'll readily agree that a Tucson-Los Angeles train might not be the best idea in the world, but if states were to develop their own high-speed rail lines, they might eventually connect in some cases.  I'd just like to see something done in Arizona before the sprawl gets any worse.