Light Rail in the USA, Part 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: St. Louis MetroLink

The St. Louis MetroLink, with 46 miles of track and 37 stations, serves the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan areas of Missouri and Illinois with an average weekday ridership of almost 64,00 (3Q-2006).

This Light Rail system currently (1Q-2007) starts at the Scott Air Force base near Shiloh, IL (Shiloh-Scott Station). From there, after a short due south drop to Southwestern Illinois College, it travels in a mostly northwestern direction towards East St. Louis, IL elevated East Riverfront Station. After crossing the Mississippi River on the 133 year-old Eads Bridge, it enters an old freight line tunnel at the Arch-Laclede's Station line. Two subway stations later, the line emerges from the west mouth of the tunnel at Busch Stadium. Heading off in westerly direction until the Forest Park Station, where the line branches with the northern branch terminating at Lambert Airport, and with the southern branch terminating in the suburb of Shrewsbury, MO.

Currently, Kansas City ATA does not have an existing Light Rail system and Memphis MATA operates a heritage trolley/streetcar system in the downtown area. However, both agencies are studying the feasibility of a modern style Light Rail system.

Answer: Minneapolis/St. Paul MetroTransit (MT)

The twelve-mile long Hiawatha line, named for Hiawatha Avenue that the track parallels for much of it's route, begin construction in 2001 with the groundbreaking taking place on January 12. The line's first phase, the northern eight mile section of line servicing the downtown area to the Fort Snelling station, opened on June 26, 2004. Service to the Mall of America began with the December 4, 2004 opening of final four miles of track (second phase) with the Mall being used as a major regional transportation hub.

The Mall of America, when opened, was America's second largest mall by size of total area and the largest in total stores and vendors. Although it has never been the world's largest (by any terms), it is the world's most visited with more than 40 million per year. Can you believe it, people will actual spend their entire vacation at shopping at the Mall of America, go figure.

Answer: Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD)

In addition to Invesco Stadium, the E (and C) line also provides services to the downtown area's Auraria West Campus, Coors Field, Six Flags Elitch Gardens and the LoDo district.

Although, relativity, Denver was a newcomer to the Light Rail scene with its first line opening in October of '94' as compared to the '80s' opening of many other systems, it has more than made up for it by its aggressive expansion. Currently (1Q-2007) this system is just a hair sly of 35 miles of track (mostly double track) serving the south and southwest areas. Should the proposed 11.2 mile northwest corridor, 18 mile north corridor and 38 mile north west become a reality, Denver will have one of the largest Light Rail Systems in the states. Additionally, a west corridor is in planning stage and a east corridor is being studied.

Neither Cheyenne or Colorado Springs has a Light Rail Systems. In Fort Collins, the all volunteer FCMR operates a single heritage trolley car on a 1.5 mile track only on weekend afternoons during the non-winter months.

Answer: Utah Transit Authority (UTA)

With more than 1.6 million participants (athletes, journalists, security, spectators etc.) descending on Salt Lake City for the '02' Winter Games, Public Transportation had a major responsibility in the ensuring the success of this event. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee called on America's Public Transit Agencies to come and help.

And come they did, more than sixty Transit Agencies from 27 states and Washington D.C. responded to operation "Drive For The Gold" by sending their vehicles, equipment, operators, mechanics, managers, and other support personnel. The Dallas Area Rapid Transit sent 29 Light Rail Vehicles for the games, which more than double UTA's LRV fleet.

Answer: Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

With 45 plus miles of rail, there is nothing small about DART's Light Rail system and it has plans to keep growing. In October of 2006, the Board of Directors at DART approved the following expansion plans:

a 2.9-mile extension of the Blue Line to Bonnie View Road and I-20),
a 4.3-mile extension of the Red Line to Red Bird Lane,
a 4.3-mile extension of the Green Line to Masters Drive adjacent to Scyene Road,
a 6-mile rail line in west Dallas terminating just East of Grand Prairie, and a very controversial 25 plus mile commuter line that will run from Plano to DFW International Airport.

Although Austin, El Paso, and Fort Worth currently do not have Light Rail systems, all three are studying the feasibility of Light Rail.

Answer: Whoa, wipeout dude, there is no Light Rail service in this island paradise

Although Honolulu does not have Light Rail yet, yet is the word. In November of 2006, City Council's Transportation and Planning Committee gave the nod of approval to Light Rail accepting a transit study that recommended either a 28 mile from west Kapolei to the University of Hawaii via the Airport or a 20 mile from east Kapolei to Ala Moana Center.

But the controversy is not over, strong opposition maintains that the proposed ridership does not justify the cost, and that suitable alternatives, such as HOT lanes and Bus Rapid Transit, were inadequately evaluated.

Answer: San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI)

Although all four of these Transit Agencies provides public transportation services in San Francisco, MUNI is the only Agency that operates Light Rail system.

The San Francisco Municipal Railway, a division of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, was founded in 1921. Operating 5 Light Rail lines, 3 cable car lines, and the F Market Heritage Streetcar line (exclusively using historical cars from around the world) make this rail system diversely unique (and yes, the Rice-A-Roni reference was a bit of a low blow).

Answer: Sacramento Regional Transit District (SRTD)

SRTD's Gold line, from Historic Old Sacramento to Historic Old Folsom. Starting at the Sacramento Valley Station (in the Amtrak Station bordering Old Sacramento District), this 23-mile line with 28 stations, runs south through the downtown area crossing the K Street Mall on 7th Street (return 8th Street), then turning eastward at O street through the heart of the mid-town area. At the 39th street station, the line follows the heavily congested Highway 50 corridor of east Sacramento and Rancho Cordova. Shortly after the Hazel Station, the track runs to north-east to Folsom's three stations, terminating at Old Historic Folsom. End to end trip time, about 50 minutes.

Sacramento Light Rail system, the 18 mile starter liner opening in March of 1987, currently has just shy of 37 miles of track (most double tracked) with over 54,000 (Q3-2006) average weekday passenger trips

Answer: Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro)

Houston, we have a problem. The road to leading Houston's Light Rail was a rocky one indeed. Strong opposition, led by City Councilman Rob Todd and Representative Tom Delay with the backing of the Texas Justice Foundation, rallied against the rail system including the filing of a lawsuit that delayed construction and the blocking of earmarked federal funds.

The 2004 New Years Day opening the didn't get make the that road less bumpy. As a result of blocked federal funds, the line was built at grade instead with the recommended elevated tracks. Experiencing more than fifty collisions with vehicles during it's first six months (a rate 20 times higher then the average of the nation's Light Rail systems) earned it such nicknames as "A Streetcar Named Disaster and "The Wham Bam Tram"

However, as with the "The Little Engine That Could" Houston's "I Think I Can" train, reached a weekday boarding average of 40,000 in September of 2006, vastly exceeding all ridership projections. As of the third quarter of 2006, Houston's Metrolink was second only to Boston's MBTA when ranked by ridership per miles of track.

Answer: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

Currently, with three Light Rail lines and two rapid transit subways, LA MTA rail system totals are over 73 miles of track and 62 stations. The three Light Rail lines, (Blue, Green and Gold) make this system the third largest in the US. The Blue Line opened in 1990, a mere 27 years after service ended on the last operating line of what was once the the world's most extensive electric-powered rail system streetcar .

The Great American Streetcar Scandal, subplot in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" is considered by many responsible for the demise of the nation's trolley/streetcar systems. During the the late 1903s and the 1940s, General Motors, Firestone and Standard Oil, though the national City Lines, bought more than 100 surface electric-traction systems replacing the rail cars with GM buses.

However, in reality, this business strategy of eliminating trolley/streetcars to maximize the profits of the auto/truck/bus industry can be only considered, at most, a part of the demise and not the core cause.

Answer: Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA)

The new kid on the block, Valley Metro, serving the greater Phoenix/Tempe/Glendale Metropolitan area, is in construction of a 20 mile (mostly single track) starter line. The project is on-schedule and within budget and passenger service is slated to began in December of 2008.

The Ops and Maintenance facility, the Town Lake Bridge and much of the track has already been completed. System testing also, is in progress.

Answer: No Jackpot here, there is no light Rail service in the city of Lost Wages

No, Las Vegas does not a Light Rail system, but they do have a Monorail. The 3.9 mile owned by the Las Vegas Monorail Company and built by Bombardier Transportation was built on and expanded the existing free Monorail that was running between the MGM Grand and Bally's Casinos. Financed without public money (although, the state of Nevada assisted in bond financing), this seven station system runs through the heart of the casino strip area.

Starting at the MGM Grand Station, located near Audrie Street and Tropicana Avenue, the system runs north closely paralleling Audrie Street serving the the Bally's/Paris, Flamingo and Harrah's/Imperial stations. From the Harrah's/Imperial station the line turns east to Koval Lane, and, then north to Sand's Avenue. East on Sand's to Paradise Road, back north serving the Convention Center and Hilton stations and terminating near the the intersection of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue at the Sahara Station.

A proposed 4 mile, 5 station expanded to McCarren International Airport is in the works. Critics cite the high fare costs ($5.00 single trip/$15.00 day pass/ $40.00 three day pass) and the problematic history of the system, which includes the delayed opening (almost 1 year) of passenger service and the four month system system shutdown resulting from falling parts, as reasons not expand. However, under new management, this system is forging forward and Las Vegas may be the first US city to utilize Monorail as a major component of their urban mass transit.

Answer: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

The Valley Transportation Authority's Light Rail System, with a tad over 42 miles of track and 62 stations, serves the greater San Jose Area, or as it is better known as, Silicon Valley. Revenue service began in December of 1987 initial 9 mile segment between Santa Clara and downtown San Jose.

The nickname Silicon Valley originated from a 1971 series of articles, "Silicon Valley USA" authored by Don Hoefler and publish in the Electronics News, a weekly trade newspaper. Most credit the start of this area's high Tech industry growth with Stanford University decision to finance expansion by leasing it's land for useage as a technology-focus office park. The Stanford Industrial Park, later renamed the Stanford Research Park was built in 1951. Early tenants include Hewlett-Packard, Eastman Kodak and General Electric.

The Santa Clara Valley had been originally known as the "Valley of Heart's Delight", so named for it's splendid fruit orchards.

Answer: Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit)

The "Free to Ride" end-to-end Tacoma Link, just 1.6 miles long and with only 5 stations, serves to relieve traffic congestion in the downtown area by providing trains every 10 minutes (20 minutes on Sundays) between a transit transfer hub/parking facility and the core downtown area. Tacoma Link's 2006 average weekday ridership per mile of track comes at 1,875.

Answer: San Diego Trolley (SDT)

Now that we are at the border, it's end of the line for Light Rail in the US -West of the Mississippi.

Known by the transit industry as "the city that started the Light Rail craze in the US", the San Diego Trolley began passenger service in July of 1981 with a 13 1/2 starter line, making it, not only the first modern Light Rail in California, but the second in North America (Edmonton, AB was first) . Currently operating three lines ( Blue, Red and Orange) with 51 miles of track and 53 stations, with reported fare revenue being over 90% of operating cost, this system is almost self sufficient, which many considered to be most successful system in the US.