Urban Renewal
Aug. 22nd, 2011 12:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dadadadioSince moving to Tempe we've become fans of the Metro Light Rail. The closest station is a few miles up the road. There's a parking garage, 24 hour security staff, indoor bike racks, and lots of camera eyes on duty. The parking service is free.
There are many people in this valley hating on the shiny light rail system. They vow to never use it, always vote against it, and keep on trucking with their 4WD Chevy & Ford pickups. The truck and auto culture will never die, but people need options and this city has to stop sucking off the gas pump, even if it's just a little.
From McClintock/Apache station the line runs west through Arizona State U. in downtown Tempe, the Mill Avenue District, over the lake and on to PHX. There's a long stretch through undesirable industrial zones before you reach the capital city. The trains are brand new, the stations clean and relatively safe, and there are places to go along the line.
Chase Field has a station for baseball fans. The PHX Suns play downtown in their arena, there are museums, shops, restaurants and plenty of things to do downtown. And you don't have to drive or pay for parking. We've done the ballgame trips, with more planned, used light rail for a Rush Concert. An all day fare is only $3.50. It's cheaper than the gas and parking fees.
Using Google Maps I started looking for reasons to use light rail. My favorite steakhouse is on Central Ave, on the line. There are several theatres within a stroll of the stations. I noted the restaurants, bars and clubs.
I've been telling my son James that he should be using the rail but he would not venture. We eventually took him to see the 4th of July fireworks just a few stations down the line at Tempe Town Lake. He needed to be walked through the process. In recent weeks he's made the 3 mile bike ride to McClintock/Apache Station, locked his bike in the garage and rode the rail to PHX for baseball games. He loves the rail, his life is expanding a little. He goes with mom and he goes solo.
From McClintock/Apache station the line runs west through Arizona State U. in downtown Tempe, the Mill Avenue District, over the lake and on to PHX. There's a long stretch through undesirable industrial zones before you reach the capital city. The trains are brand new, the stations clean and relatively safe, and there are places to go along the line.
Chase Field has a station for baseball fans. The PHX Suns play downtown in their arena, there are museums, shops, restaurants and plenty of things to do downtown. And you don't have to drive or pay for parking. We've done the ballgame trips, with more planned, used light rail for a Rush Concert. An all day fare is only $3.50. It's cheaper than the gas and parking fees.
Using Google Maps I started looking for reasons to use light rail. My favorite steakhouse is on Central Ave, on the line. There are several theatres within a stroll of the stations. I noted the restaurants, bars and clubs.
I've been telling my son James that he should be using the rail but he would not venture. We eventually took him to see the 4th of July fireworks just a few stations down the line at Tempe Town Lake. He needed to be walked through the process. In recent weeks he's made the 3 mile bike ride to McClintock/Apache Station, locked his bike in the garage and rode the rail to PHX for baseball games. He loves the rail, his life is expanding a little. He goes with mom and he goes solo.
Most of rail haters come from a few clear groups, suburbanites who live nowhere near the train line (but are connected by bus routes), people who simply would never leave their cars (the folks drive-up windows were invented for), and hardcore anti-tax, no government spending, socialism haters ..... a.k.a teabaggers. On local news sites the right wing trolls scream that light rail is socialism. And they hate that word, even if they don't know what it means.
I wondered if anyone thought of linking the businesses, civic buildings, entertainment and sports venues, hotels, and any business that hopes being on the rail line will improve their lot. I have a marketing idea for Valley Metro but I suspect someone already thought of this. There must be a map of the line designed specifically for dining, nightlife and entertainment. If not they've missed an opportunity.
Make the line the place to be. Development in this valley needs to look inward, not to the burbs. I see light rail as the link between socialism and capitalism that could do this valley good.
I wondered if anyone thought of linking the businesses, civic buildings, entertainment and sports venues, hotels, and any business that hopes being on the rail line will improve their lot. I have a marketing idea for Valley Metro but I suspect someone already thought of this. There must be a map of the line designed specifically for dining, nightlife and entertainment. If not they've missed an opportunity.
Make the line the place to be. Development in this valley needs to look inward, not to the burbs. I see light rail as the link between socialism and capitalism that could do this valley good.
One cranky old conservative who dishes daily on our local comment boards complained "light rail will never turn a profit. It's a loser." My keyboard exploded. "Are you serious? Can you be that dense? When was the last time the interstate highway system turned a profit? Maybe we should stop building and maintaining bridges and tunnels because there's no profit in them. WTF? You dumb ....... " I think I called him an UnPC name at the end.
When the economy turns around I hope the blighted lots along Washington Street find new uses as places to go, retail, entertainment and residential. There are long stretches of potential if city leaders and developers could get on the same page. They need shops and dining near every station. The metro line should be the focus of this valley's development, not pushing the grid further from the city. We have enough developed land and too many vacant strip malls in the suburbs.
Phoenix needs to start doing business differently. Stop the subdivisions, build IN the city. Bring people back to the urban setting, especially young people. Public transportation is a key factor. The next generation will embrace these changes more than blue haired snowbirds. It's okay if the rednecks, soccer moms, and teabaggers don't use it. That makes the ride more pleasant for the rest of us.
Phoenix needs to start doing business differently. Stop the subdivisions, build IN the city. Bring people back to the urban setting, especially young people. Public transportation is a key factor. The next generation will embrace these changes more than blue haired snowbirds. It's okay if the rednecks, soccer moms, and teabaggers don't use it. That makes the ride more pleasant for the rest of us.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-22 07:00 pm (UTC)I wish the Little Rock metro area had something decent that could pass for public transit. We have buses, which stop running about 9 p.m. The irony in that is incredible to me.
Little Rock's streetcars used to run until midnight.
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Date: 2011-08-27 06:01 pm (UTC)The cranky guy was an online troll who spends all day bitching about illegals, Obama, taxes, and all the hot button teabag issues.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 02:48 pm (UTC)You could write about journeys on the light rail while highlighting businesses, shops, restaurants, along the way. You'd probably discover many more progressive people than you thought in your town. You'd be great at it. Just a suggestion.
Glad James likes it too and is getting out.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-27 06:08 pm (UTC)I'd like to spend some weekend time on the train, documenting business on the line, noting dining and entertainment within a short stroll of each station. I can use Google to get info on the restaurants.
I've always been a map maker (a secret skill I have) so it would be no problem drawing a map of the places to go along the rail line. Cheryl has skills and experience in advertising, marketing, and printing. I think a paper map and a web version could be a hit.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-30 04:12 am (UTC)