I can hear the Phoenix light rail lovers and planning elites saying, “Deficit, what deficit? We don’t care about no stinking $244 million deficit.” Rome burns and Phoenix is cutting services (including bus and light rail service) left and right while raising taxes because of its $244 million deficit, but its investment in the light rail money pit continues at full speed. The 4.8 mile extension of the light rail to service Phoenix Sky Harbor airport has a projected cost of $1.1 billion. The Phoenix big spenders continue to live by the motto “its only money, but it’s not our money.” The light rail money is no object types must not know that Phoenix, Arizona and the United States are teetering on bankruptcy because they spend money they do not have.
In what appears to be an insult to American workers and businesses during these tough economic times, Phoenix will buy the light rail cars from a Canadian company rather than a U.S. company. Valley Metro will enter into a $260 million contract with a Canadian firm, Bombardier Transportation Holdings USA, for 18 train cars and a maintenance facility. That equates to $14,444,444 for each 36 foot long 53 passenger rail car. I don’t know anything about the cost of rail cars, but that seems to be an extraordinarily high cost per car.
See “Phoenix unveils design of PHX Sky Train cars for Sky Harbor International Airport.”
See also “We’re too broke to be this stupid – Beleaguered taxpayers may finally put a stop to the sheer waste of government spending”
Many of your facts are incorrect. 1) No Phoenix general fund/tax dollars are to be used for the PHX Sky Train. 2) Per the FAA, no city money may be transferred to the airport so your conclusion about “spending during deficit” is not relevant. 3)PHX Sky Train is an airport train that connects to light rail; not an extension of light rail. 4)This is not a Valley Metro Rail project – it’s an airport project.
The airport would be pleased to provide correct information to you or your readers. If you plan to write anything in the future, we invite you to check your facts in advance. Thank you.
The post did not say that Phoenix city money was being spent to build the sky train. The airport spending $1.1 billion for the sky train during a while Phoenix has a $244 million deficit is correct. Question: Does Sky Harbor operate this year with a surplus or a deficit and how much is it?
The fact that people in positions of planning and spending airport money are not aware that spending $1.1 billion now and in the near future occurs during a time when federal, state and local governments are broke is a fact known to most people not in government. I understand that you, being a member of government or a governmental agency, are unaware that money has to come from somewhere before government can spend it.
I noticed you did not explain why the airport is sending $260 million out of the U.S. rather than spending the money in the U.S. with 9.7% unemployment or why the cost of a train car is so high.
Bummer, right? So it helps to have a regular Phoenix car service that don’t demand a chunk off your wallet. Hope this railway issue will be resolved soonest possible so commuters can have an alternative.