Light rail in Phoenix

1. "Light rail gets its first paying commuters" as revenue service launches after two weeks of free riding. According to the article from the Arizona Republic, crowds were heavy, but nothing like the massive crowds (with waits of 2 hours or more) during the free trial period. One person is quoted as saying it's easier to use than the DC subway system. (I'm sure that is true in terms of ticketing. Plus you don't have to go underground.)

Doug Thomason, of Scottsdale, buys a pass for the west bound light rail train at the Price Freeway and Apache Boulevard Station for his commute into Phoenix. Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic

2. I have been meaning to mention the "protest" about the light rail offering. Younger people want the hours to be extended, to accommodate their trips to and from entertainment destinations. See "Twentysomethings Are Out Protesting The Light Rail's Midnight Stop Time" from the Phoenix New Times blog.

The mobile protesting pair of Erin Searle (left) and Kevin Sweet at the light rail's Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street station.

3. Note to WMATA and to the Maryland MTA busy planning light rail for the Washington DC suburbs (Purple Line) and in Baltimore: see the bicycle affixed to a hook?

Nick Oza/The Arizona Republic

4. According to one of the captions on a photo set, Arizona State University has dropped its shuttle service between Tempe and Phoenix in favor of the light rail. Some of the University of Maryland bus services could be similarly dropped (such as service to Silver Spring), with the creation of the Purple Line.