The light rail predictions were just that – and ASU student passes are subsidized by the revenue generated at ASU from parking passes and tickets, not public funds.

Originally the passes were free for students – since they’re now $80 /yr (very cheap still!) less students are riding the rail than when those predictions were made – and Metro’s ridership is 60% above predicted levels right now. All in all the ASU community is not the highest user group riding the Metro.

A lot – but not a majority – of the users came from the discontinued Red Line bus route in PHX, which had the 2nd highest ridership numberss in the Valley Metro network. I think the light rail was the right system for our city.

Most of the riders are non-transit riders that ride it for cultural and sporting events. For example the highest ridership was this October on First Friday…. not so much an ASU event.

Also I have roots here for sure, and I am totally connected to this place. I’ve lived here for 18 years – I grew up here – I call Phoenix my home. But I see too many issues for Arizona to overcome for me to continue being happy here in the near future – and honestly I can’t stand the weather once it’s over 90.

With that, I support everyone who wants to call Phoenix home, and especially people who want to improve their community through dialog, I am still engaged in my community and I will continue to be until I leave.

I just really wanted to understand better what your reasoning is for finding fault in ASU Downtown Phoenix when it hasn’t had the time to even get off the ground.

I agree with you about a lot of the problems you see in ASU’s land development policies – but a lot of that comes from the veiled ASU Foundation (I seriously think the Foundation causes so many image problems for ASU, even though they also provide scholarships they do a lot of shady investments and they were the funder & project manager of Sky Song & ASU Research Park). It’s a completely private organization that is outside the public realm of oversight – I wish ASU itself would put more pressure on the Foundation to better itself. But when we consider the alternative to the Sky Song development (Sky Song is still a troubled project) a Super Wal-mart, I am glad we have the lesser of the two evils in South Scottsdale.

Sorry if I came off abrasive, I appreciate your outlook and more so I appreciate having a chance to engage with you in this dialog!

Best wishes,
Khamis

I only mentioned the things in the article, with a slight jab at Skysong.

“if there is any single investment that has been made downtown by Phoenix, that one takes the cake in my book!”

I agree this among others was a horrible investment.

“Also the city is in partnership with the Biomedical Complex downtown that was suppose to bring those research jobs downtown…. so we still have to give it more time before that pays off too just like ASU’s Downtown Phoenix Campus.”

I agree there will be an upside. I was implying that there were better investments to be made with larger upsides.

Shame you didn’t read all the way down to the footnote where I stated that. I included it because the article I was commenting on did (and the fact that a large portion of the riders of the system are subsidized students)

“That is why the Universities are facing a tough reality – they have to look elsewhere for funding, the only real source they can turn to (since philanthropic donations went down the toilet w/ the rest of the economy) is to raise tuition rates (while also pointing their blame at the legislator).”

I can’t feel sorry for a university that has taken over $300 million in free handouts to expand it’s operation through land deals, instead of asking for operating capital for the operations it already has.

“The State of Arizona doesn’t give a damn about education, and I in turn don’t give a damn about this State nor do I feel I should stick around to contribute to a sinking ship.”

That is certainly your prerogative. It is much easier to duck and run than make a difference. That said, if you have no roots here and don’t care for the place I don’t blame you. I would leave too.

“I guess we don’t need a library system nor an university since we have one of the lowest literacy rates in any major city. (And since Tucson has a slightly higher rate, don’t try to blame immigration)”

The state has serious financial problems for sure. As do many states. I’m actually a proponent of immigration so you won’t see me citing it as an ill in literacy or elsewhere.

“What’s going to happen when the stimulus money dries up in Arizona? I don’t know – but I picture it won’t belong before it’ll be difficult to differentiate between the urban fabrics of Phoenix and Detroit.”

The biggest difference is the infrastructure in Detroit is half a century or more older than that of Phoenix. So while both economies might be bleak, the infrastructure here can go unmaintained for while longer.

“And let me know sometime sooner how the Light Rail is an education expenditure.”

Some 20% of ridership was slated to be from ASU and subsidized… Not exactly insignificant…

———
Valley Metro has projected 25,000 to 30,000 total trips per day, making the estimated ASU contribution close to 20 percent of the expected light rail ridership. The actual amount of ASU’s light rail ridership, however, will depend on several variables, Pendyala says.

According to the online survey results, the most significant factors in the decision to ride the light rail are service frequency and cost. A fare of $2, as opposed to offering a free service, drops the light rail ridership attributed to ASU by about 1,500 riders per day. A similar drop in ridership is predicted if service were reduced from a 10-minute frequency to a 20-minute frequency.

Other factors that will affect ASU student and faculty light rail use is the operation of the downtown Phoenix inter-campus shuttle, which would compete with light rail service for ASU riders, and parking costs and parking availability at the Tempe and downtown Phoenix campuses.
——–

Truth is that the State of Arizona has never funded the universities at this low of a level over the past three decades. Income and property taxes have been cut significantly over those 30 years, and where has the state made up for that? (Well it hasn’t… it’s still bringing in less revenue than ever before) Through the brilliant idea of raising sales tax of course. And if you know anything about social justice issues you’ll know sales tax is highly inequitable (since it severely hinders those below the poverty level, while benefiting those who make over middle income salaries).

That is why the Universities are facing a tough reality – they have to look elsewhere for funding, the only real source they can turn to (since philanthropic donations went down the toilet w/ the rest of the economy) is to raise tuition rates (while also pointing their blame at the legislator).

The State of Arizona doesn’t give a damn about education, and I in turn don’t give a damn about this State nor do I feel I should stick around to contribute to a sinking ship.

PS. Don’t worry about PHX funding any more of ASU downtown anytime soon. I hear that because of the extreme decline in sales tax revenues (they’re still falling faster than worst case scenarios predictions can keep up with) that the city of Phoenix is considering a 15% to essential services (police & fire) and 30% to all other departments. This is on top of the major budget cuts from last year (which the worst the city has gone through in modern times – almost closing the library system). I guess we don’t need a library system nor an university since we have one of the lowest literacy rates in any major city. (And since Tucson has a slightly higher rate, don’t try to blame immigration)

What’s going to happen when the stimulus money dries up in Arizona? I don’t know – but I picture it won’t belong before it’ll be difficult to differentiate between the urban fabrics of Phoenix and Detroit. I will be gone by that time – let me know how things are then. And let me know sometime sooner how the Light Rail is an education expenditure.

Thanks,
Khamis