Valley Metro in Phoenix is bringing the first light rail line into neighboring Mesa and Tempe, and carrying a lot of money with it. Although the trains won't be carrying passengers until December, transit officials say the rail line has already spurred about $6 billion in real estate development.
New condos, office buildings and mixed-used developments have sprouted like weeds along and around the 20 miles of track that link the three cities. The transit line is hardly the only reason for the growth, real estate analysts say, but it's certainly been a catalyst.
Critics counter the system's been a drain on taxpayers, and it has hit a few glitches in recent months. Inspectors found cracks in the tracks earlier this year, and a camera went on the fritz last week, delaying the start of testing on the line from Mesa to Tempe. Despite the difficulties, transit officials say the system "is on time and on budget."
Testing started Tuesday on the Mesa to Tempe segment (roughly four miles), and transit officials say so far, so good. Authorities ran a single car at walking speed along the line to check the clearance between cars and platforms and to ensure the track was up to par. They also tested the pantograph, the device that carries electric current from the overhead lines to the train. Further tests are slated, and the system is still needs work on traffic signals and the light rail's GPS system.
The tab for the project is $1.4 billion. Transit officials expect the line to carry 50,000 people a day within 10 years.
Photo by Valley Metro.
