Officials at METRO announced that our much-anticipated Light Rail system has already experienced some preliminary problems.
Over the course of the 20-mile track that runs through Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa, seven mysterious cracks have been discovered. According to Marty McNeil, the marketing manager for METRO, it is unknown why the flaws occurred, which process caused the cracks, and most importantly, whose fault it was. While it could be several weeks before anything is determined, I’m sure many of the Light Rail’s contractors are runnin’ for the hills even as we speak.
METRO hired Zeta-Tech Associates of Cherry Hill, NJ to assess and analyze the problem. The company has consulted for cities with similar projects such as Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and the Bart system in Northern California’s Bay Area. Aside from these mysterious cracks, the rail is still on schedule to carry its first riders in December of this year. Either way, the light rail has spurred development along its route, increasing the prices of land all along the 20-mile track. Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zones have been placed over the areas closest to the stations, hopefully increasing mixed-use development with residential above retail.
The seven areas where the track cracked are as follows:
• First Avenue and Fillmore Street
• 26th and Jefferson streets
• 15th and Washington streets
• 44th and Washington streets (two breaks)
• First Street and Ash Avenue in Tempe (four breaks)
• Third Street and Mill Avenue in Tempe
• Apache Boulevard & Martin Lane in Tempe
For full story go hear: http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/01/14/daily37.html
