There certainly has been a lot of excitement lately about the new Phoenix light rail system which officially opened for passenger service in December 2008.
After all the hype and having to deal with traveling on several road being torn up as they built the system over the past several months, I myself was anxious to give it a try! Unfortunately at this time, the rail does not come to Scottsdale but I had to make a trip to Tempe, so I decided to test it out and take advantage of the 'no fare' ride being offered. Since each station is designed to fit up to three rail cars at a time, my wait was minimal. I boarded the trail at the Tempe Mill & Third Street station and rode in to Mesa and back.
Having been on the light rail in Denver, I found the Phoenix system to be very similar. I was amazed at how smooth and quiet (except for the noisy excited kids J) the ride was. The trains are very sleek and modern with comfortable interiors. They have integrated several user friendly features to accommodate almost everyone. Each car has capacity for 4 wheel chairs, and there are no stairs to climb to board the trail as the door entries at the same height as the vehicle platform. It was a great experience.
I must admit it would be convenient to catch the train and not have to fight the traffic to get to work or an event! It remains to be seen how many people will take advantage of the light rail. I suspect that it will quickly become very popular. The price of $1.25 for a one way fare or $2.50 for the day is extremely reasonable. They also offer 3 and 7 day passes or monthly passes at reduced prices. It sure beats the hassle of driving!
The new system is kind of fun, isn't it? You make some great points. I think many people will enjoy the "events" aspect that you mention. Things like Suns, Dbacks, the Heard Museum, ASU sports, Mill Ave festivals etc. all become more accessible. Nice job, thanks for the info!