Life as Edward Jensen

So for some, the benefits of being car-free are enough to take public transportation.  There’s that feeling one gets that one is helping the environment.  There’s also that feeling that one is contributing to creating walkable cities.  But if that isn’t enough incentive, there’s a contest with prizes to ASU sporting events, whose stadia are located close to the light rail line.  More details:

This February, Valley Metro is asking residents to “Try 1 in 5” , share the ride via carpool, vanpool, bus or light rail at least one day a week. It reduces pollution, eases traffic congestion and saves money. They also want to help residents find a commuting partner using their new Share The Ride ride-matching system.

As a thank you to residents who are sharing the ride, Valley Metro will be giving out pairs of ASU Baseball and Basketball tickets to their fans and followers this month. They will announce via Twitter (@ValleyMetroRPTA) and Facebook (Valley Metro RPTA) ways that fans can win the tickets, and where they will be to give them out. Valley Metro staff will look for people with transit passes on hand or who are tweeting pictures of themselves on the bus.

I’ll be seeing you on either the light rail or the bus!

-Edward Jensen

Yes, yes, I know: when you’re reading this, the world slowly is marching into 2010.  That doesn’t take away from the spirit of this post, which is looking forward and offering my hopes and dreams for this place that we all call home.

Let’s get to it…

First, I hope that Phoenix (and even the metro area) start realizing that there is enough infrastructure here into which we need to grow.  We don’t need to keep sprawling out as we have.  Let’s fix that which is already here.  There are some true gems that we don’t need to go and unsustainably expand.  Let’s also diversify how we build and not put all our economic eggs in one basket.  Arizona was one of the hardest hit states in this recession because we put all our energy into growth.  Nothing else.

For the light rail, I have three wishes. First, let’s get rid of the one-car trains.  They look silly.  How much more does it cost to operate a two-car train?  Second, let’s take a look at frequency.  Sundays operate at three trains per hour.  The riders are there: let’s say that the minimum frequency is four trains per hour (or, 15 minutes between trains).  Third, let’s not eliminate the Friday/Saturday late night service (to 3am).

For Arizona, I hope that our state legislature realizes that it cannot cut our way out of this budget crisis.  We need to find new, reliable ways to gain revenue and invest in things that will keep the people here.  Because, given how you’re disenfranchising those who call this place home by cutting monies to public education, parks, protection, etc., people are going to evaluate if they want to stay here.  As for me, I’m on the fence.

And lastly, for me: this time come next year, and provided that everything goes as planned, I’ll have my Bachelor of Sciences degree in Urban & Metropolitan Studies.  I’ll have written and defended a thesis on social network analysis and how Web 2.0 has affected that.  I’m sure I’ll meet some fantastic people along the way.  And maybe someone special, too.

So Happy New Year 2010. May this year be peaceful, engaging, and productive.

Peace!

-Edward Jensen

[editor's note: Amy Freberg, the guest author of this post, is the Student Ambassador for the School of Social Work here at the ASU College of Public Programs.  Her blog is at http://aafreberg.blogspot.com/.]

Ode to the Noisy Train
Inspired by Edward Jensen

I wait on the platform
With the heat of the summer
Dripping down the back of my neck.
I stand waiting.

Down the street as far as one can see
A metro train grows in the distance,
Lights flashing as a warning.
I stand waiting.

As it rolls up to the stop
I collect my things,
There is a pause before the doors open.
I stand waiting.

On entering I look for a seat
In this one-car-train,
None are to be found.
I stand waiting.

The train jolts into movement,
I try to keep my balance.
A noise explodes from somewhere below,
The sound of a new train in need of oil,
And I stand, Waiting.

It is crucial that this message be disseminated and understood by all Valley Metro bus and METRO light rail passengers.

1) Purchasing fares at the farebox or “on-board” the bus will cost more tomorrow (Wed, July 1). The local bus/METRO light rail/LINK All-day bus fare increases from $2.50 to $3.50. Purchasing this same All-day fare at the BUS farebox will cost $5.25.

2) Purchasing fares in advance will save riders money.

3) You can purchase a fare in advance at: METRO light rail station fare vending machines, online at valleymetro.org, transit centers, some public libraries, Safeway grocery stores, and Fry’s Foods.

4) Why does the All-day pass for local, express and reduced fares now vary? Because purchasing fares at the farebox or “on-board” the bus slows down the boarding process for everyone and makes it more difficult for the bus to stay on schedule. 90% of our All-day passes are purchased on the bus—but now we have doubled our locations to purchase fares making it more convenient to save money.

-Edward Jensen

Ok, so something I’ve long been considering is getting a Segway.  You may know them as those futuristic-looking vehicles that balance on two wheels and are controlled by how the driver  leans.  (If you’re curious, I’m looking at the i2 Commuter.)

Since I don’t have a car (or a license for that matter, but by personal choice), I’m limited to public transport, walking, biking, friends, and the parents.  Which is fine.  But a Segway, I feel, would complement this repertory of mobility extensively.

So yesterday, I sent out the following tweet on Twitter (as a complete aside, if you’re on Twitter, follow me: I’m @edwardjensen):

Does anyone know if Metro will allow Segways on its trains? If I get one, it better be able to go on the Metro… #raillife #phx

And I get the following tweet back in response from @PhoenixMetroBus, the Twitter account for Valley Metro (spelling, punctuation, etc. retained from the original):

@edwardjensen If u push it to the platform and onto the train, yes, Segways are allowed on the train. #raillife #phx

I should also thank @michichan for her reply tweets offering a clarification (again, spelling, punctuation, etc. retained):

@edwardjensen you can take a segway on board. you can’t ride it on platforms or trains unless it’s a mobility aid and it is marked as such … the only major restriction is on gas powered devices (including gas powered motorized bicycles) #raillife

Next, I have to figure out where I can park my hypothetical Segway on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus…

To do list: i. figure out where to park the Segway on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus, and ii. raise capital to purchase a Segway. Then have lots of fun…

-Edward Jensen

It has been announced that ASU’s Parking and Transit Services will begin charging students for the U-Pass.  For the past four years, it has been a free program, but with the addition of the light rail and also with the new fare structure for Valley Metro, they couldn’t justify keeping it as a free program.  From last year (July 2008), University faculty and staff have had to pay for their U-Passes, and so it was inevitable that students would have to pay at some point.

But in this time of change, I’ve been doing a little bit of thinking on the new pricing scheme.  To summarize, the card will now cost $40 for a semester (August-December or January-May) or $80 for the entire year (August-May).  If you’re taking a summer class and require a pass earlier, then you can do that (still paying $40 or $80, depending on what you want).

From 1 July 2009, an all-day local pass (local bus + light rail) is $3.50 if purchased at a fare vending machine.  To justify spending $40 on a semester pass, one would have to use the bus and/or light rail 12 days (i.e. purchase 12 one-day passes) before spending more than $40.  If one were to buy the yearlong pass, that figure is 23 days (i.e. purchase 23 one-day passes).

Yes, this is a shock that this program now costs money, but if one is going to ride the light rail practically every day (as I do), this is an incredible bargain.  It would be really worthwhile if, during the semester, Metro doesn’t use any one-car trains…

Food for thought.

-Edward Jensen

[source: Arizona State University Parking & Transit Services] Arizona State University Parking and Transit Services announced today it will begin charging students for the ASU U-Pass. Valid for unlimited rides on the METRO light rail and all Valley Metro bus routes, the Student U-Pass is $40 per semester or $80 for the academic year not including summer sessions. 2009-2010 U-Passes are valid July 1, 2009 – May 15, 2010. Students can pay $80 for the full academic year or $40 in the fall and spring semesters. Beginning summer 2010, summer session U-Passes, good for both summer sessions, will sell for an additional $25.

Valley Metro will implement a 40 percent fare increase effective July 1. Consequently, the cost of the U-Pass program to PTS also increases. In charging $40 per semester, PTS continues to subsidize the majority of the cost to students for the transit pass. While PTS pays for each U-Pass boarding, students who purchase U-Passes pay the fixed $40 and can then ride METRO light rail or Valley Metro buses an unlimited number of times throughout the semester.

“Parking and Transit Services is pleased that we have been able to provide this valuable service to our community members,” PTS director Theresa Fletcher says. “We are not aware of any other university comparable in size to ASU that has been able to financially sustain a free transit pass program for their students and employees for as long as we have. We are proud that the program’s goals of offering multi-modal transit options to the ASU community were met.”

To assist students who are required to attend classes at the Tempe and Downtown Phoenix campuses, PTS is enhancing its free West-Tempe intercampus shuttle service. Beginning fall 2009, all buses on the West-Tempe intercampus shuttle route will make a stop at the Downtown Phoenix campus.

The U-Pass program was introduced as a pilot program in the fall of 2005. In its inaugural year, the U-Pass program cost PTS $600,000. The program’s expenses increased in each of the following years, with PTS seeing a price tag of $1.3 million in 2007-08. For the first three years, PTS paid for the program in full, without any contributions from ASU students or employees. As a self-funded auxiliary department of ASU, PTS does not receive any tuition, student fees or state money to support its operational costs. In July 2008, PTS began charging employees $10 per pay period for a local U-Pass ($15 per pay period for an express transit pass). PTS projects the U-Pass program costs for 2008-09 to reach between $1.5 million – $1.8 million.

PTS and university officials carefully examined a number of options with respect to the administration of the U-Pass program for the upcoming school year. One option was to discontinue the U-Pass subsidy altogether. Additional proposals included implementing a mandatory student transit fee aimed at $50 per academic year, or requiring a lower mandatory student fee with the option to purchase the U-Pass at a significantly higher rate per semester. After thorough consideration, PTS is pleased to provide students the lowest cost alternative in adopting the $40 per semester charge for an ASU U-Pass.

Student U-Passes will be available for students enrolled in Summer Session II to purchase at any ASU campus permit sales office beginning June 29. Students who are not enrolled in classes until the fall 2009 semester may purchase their U-Pass beginning Aug. 10.

View Student Frequently Asked Questions, including including eligibility requirements for purchasing a Student U-Pass, payment options and refund policy.

Dear Metro Light Rail,

I am undoubtedly one of your biggest fans.  Since you’ve been open for business, I think there have only been 15 days where I haven’t boarded one of your trains.  So there’s just one question I must ask:

What’s with these one-car trains?

This week (through last night), I have been on a Metro train eight times, and all during peak travel times (morning, lunch, evening).  Of those eight times, six trips have been on a one-car train.  Of those six trips, the train has been packed, standing room only.  When there is demand for people to ride the Metro, why cut capacity?

I understand that you’re trying to save some money, and given the current economic climate, it’s necessary.  But in reality, how much does it cost to operate a one-car vs. two-car train?  It would seem like the biggest cost – the operator’s salary – is the same whether they are driving a one-car train or a fifteen-car train.  Is the electricity to power a second car that much?  Or the maintenance costs?  If you planned your rolling stock purchase right, you should have enough cars to take one or two out of service while maintaining enough cars to keep two-car trains along the entire route.

If we look at wasteful spending on the Metro, it would be having the driver open all doors when it’s hotter than Hades outside when the air conditioning is running full blast to keep the cars comfortable.  Isn’t that what those yellow buttons on the doors are for: for people to open the train’s doors as they need while keeping the hot outside and the cool inside?  I know that when you tested that out in the winter, few people figured out that that’s what the yellow buttons were for.  So then, put a little sign on the outside of the trains to tell people to push the yellow buttons to open the doors.

When the infrastructure of the Metro was built for three-car trains (e.g. platform length), running one-car trains seems and looks silly.  I hope that you reconsider this, because you’re just reinforcing the notion that “buses can do everything trains can do,” which you and I know is completely not true.

-Edward Jensen

Yes, you read the title of this post correctly. This is a post about how to ride light rail or any other transit system.

Valley Metro and METRO Light Rail, the operators of the new twenty-mile line that opened up in December, have provided a ride guide with some basic policy instructions, like how to purchase your fare, what you can and can not bring/do onboard the trains, and so forth. I wish to call that information “how to board Light Rail.”

But nobody really has given you instructions on how to ride in a moving train. For instance, if you have to stand, how should you stand to keep your balance? What is proper etiquette for passengers? In this post, I hope to share those things with you.

First, keeping your balance. There is no way to stand on the moving trains that doesn’t require you to hold on to a handrail. Always hold on to a handrail. But make sure that you stand perpendicular to the direction of motion (see diagram). Very rarely does the train change direction. It usually accelerates or brakes. Standing perpendicular to the direction of motion allows you to shift your balance to either of your legs depending on how the train moves.  If you have to move, do something that I call “the Light Rail Shuffle.”  When walking, drag your feet across the train car floor; if you have to lift your feet to move, the lower, the better.

Second, etiquette. The thing that drives me crazy is when people will flood onto the train right after the doors open. This creates a problem for those who want to get off the train because they have to fight a flood of people who want to get on and also get through that same pack of people. So first, allow passengers to exit before boarding. If you’re on the platform when the train arrives, you won’t be denied boarding. Trust me.

When you’re on the train, do not stand next to the doors or in the doorway area. Stand in between the seating area, but make sure to stand perpendicular to the motion of the train so that you don’t lose your balance so easily (see above). Standing in that middle area allows for people who need to get off at the next station to do so without having to fight a crowd.  Also, occupy only one seat.  If you have bags or such, don’t put them on the seat next to you.  You can use the space under your seat if you want.  This gives cause to traveling light.

Also, remember that you’re in a public place when you’re on the trains or on the station platforms.  When you’re on your mobile phone, don’t talk so that everyone on the platform or in the train can hear you.

-Edward Jensen

[this blog is not affiliated with Valley Metro or METRO Light Rail]

On Saturday, I was out on Interstate 10 west of central Phoenix and I was looking how we can move people efficiently from the exurbs to downtown Phoenix. Right now, the freeway is being widened west of the Loop 101 interchange.

Anyway, on my journey on I-10, I was thinking that the proposals to put light rail as part of the freeway are completely misguided. This is not an appropriate use for light rail. This is an appropriate use for commuter rail.

First, let’s look at traffic patterns for those who commute into Phoenix. Almost all seem to travel all the way into downtown Phoenix. Commuter rail stops less frequently than light rail and would serve this task more efficiently.

Second, the stations. One proposal for building light rail calls for building the guideway in the median of the freeway. How are you going to get people from the trains to the stops? And also, why would people want to stop and explore around one of these stations?

Third, precedent. Commuter rail is to light rail as freeways are to urban streets. To build light rail within a freeway doesn’t seem to follow precedent nor make sense. The route through Phoenix seems to make sense. Someone in downtown Phoenix might travel north to run an errand on METRO.

So here’s my two cents: let’s get Phoenix on track to the future. Let’s use this as a stepping stone to making Phoenix Union Station a rail hub for Phoenix, the state, and the region. Let’s make Phoenix transportation truly multimodal and integrate rail with road.

Cheers-
Edward Jensen