Light-rail event softens a skeptic

About 25 folks showed up Saturday morning for the groundbreaking ceremonies at Sycamore Transit Center on Main Street in Mesa. Depending on your orientation, the station will either be the end of the Valley’s 20-mile stretch of light-rail line or the beginning.

I suspect I was easily the least enthusiastic spectator in the gathering.

In my mind, light rail was the result of a meeting of government bureaucrats trying to find the answer to this question: What is the least efficient, most expensive way to serve the transportation needs of the fewest number of people?

In my mind, light rail was simply a ploy used by Phoenix to maintain its position of influence in a Valley that has grown far beyond its borders. In fact, there are a lot of people who never set foot in Phoenix and manage to live happy, productive lives.

The whole thing smelled like hardball politics to me and — judging by the turnout Saturday — I suspect I was not alone in that sentiment. I thought of the crowds in excess of 10,000 who regularly flocked to the ceremonies for the opening of freeway segments in the East Valley and compared that to Saturday’s gathering.

I did a survey of those attending and found only two people — Greg and Corrine Miller of Mesa — who did not have ties to some government or commercial entity associated with the project.

So, yes, I was pretty skeptical.

But as I listened to the speakers and asked a few questions, my attitude about light rail began to soften. Like most projects, light rail won’t be the disaster that its critics suggest nor will it be the success its proponents proclaim. It will take a long time for the jury to return a verdict, and it’s likely to be a mixed ruling at that.

All along, I viewed light rail as transportation money that could have been used better by improving bus service. What I did not realize, though, is that Valley Metro’s bus system will benefit from the project, too — $3 billion over 20 years, which will almost quadruple the number of buses in the system.

That’s important because I still believe bus service is the best answer for the Valley’s transportation needs. Having used that service, I believe its main flaw now is the long waits for transfers. There aren’t enough routes, either, and many routes don’t run in the evening.

What I did not take into account is light rail’s impact on business. There’s reason to expect that the trains will enhance business opportunities, especially those businesses close to the tracks. As much as I am a fan of bus service, I can’t say improved bus service, even on a massive scale, would achieve that.

So while I still have some reservations, my attitude toward light rail is a bit more charitable.

After all, those trains will run in both directions.