My son works for ADOT, and has worked maintenance in the tunnel--he has told me the actual situation with the buses. The entry ramps onto the freeway from the bus station are too short to safely reach freeway speed (the entry ramps entered the left lane--"fast lane"). The bus drivers' union would not allow the buses to use the entry ramps because of this. Because the build was already complete, the ramps could not be changed, so the bus idea was given up.
I know originally the light rail was not on Central. However, now that there is light rail on Central, the elevators would serve a greater transit base. I feel that because of the light rail, there is even more reason to use the bus tunnel again! It would also be awesome to have artwork as you go up.
It would be cool to see a commuter rail line -- or even high speed rail line -- run through the tunnel, with a station under Hance Park that connects to Light Rail and future BRT or Streetcar lines/expansions.
That sounds like an incredible idea! A commuter or high-speed rail line running through the tunnel would greatly enhance connectivity. Having a station under Hance Park that connects to the Light Rail and future BRT would create a major transit hub, making the area more vibrant and accessible. I know the west side of the I-10 was built to house some sort high-capacity transit.
@@Urban_Avenues -- just remember where you first heard this brilliant idea 😉 ...I would like to request naming rights for the "Schubert Transit Hub"! lol ...but seriously, it has been a dream of mine for a while to see rail in that section of the tunnel (especially before ADOT tries to do something dumb with it).
I remember if you wanted to get on the I-10 West to California, you had to drive down to 35th Avenue and McDowell Rd. I - 10 hadn't been started yet. I remember also going down to the tunnel during the opening of the tunnel and walked around. It was massive. I also remember I-60 ending at Power Rd. There were two lanes that just dead ended into about 8 cement barriers and just dirt and desert beyond. It was a very long drive out there. I always said back in the 90s that they should get that bus terminal going. It wasnt a secret to me. Ive always known about it.
The insane height of the 1973 plan was supposed to try to minimize disruption on the ground. The idea was that they wouldn’t need to demolish all that many homes between interchanges.
It's wild that they thought building it so high would fix all the problems. It would still lead to a much lower quality of life and cause health issues.
I've often thought it could be used for the HOV lanes so another general-use lane can be added to the freeway each way in the tunnel. An actual bus or rail station there would be preferable, of course.
All Interstates should come with Interstate rail lines running at 125 MPH or higher like Brightine is doing to connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles... Next stop, Phoenix?
I loooove how cities and other municipalities carelessly blow tax dollars with such abandon and just go "oops" when it ends up sputtering out. San Francisco's Powell Street BART station has a tunnel that has been walled off for as long as the system has been in existence. I once saw an opening and how the tunnel bends south. I think it would have been for the Yerba Buena area. I think it was used in the filming of THX-1138, but now, it just sits and sits and sits. These cities should be held accountable for this waste and stop just being so dismissive and/or flippant about waste-assing our hard-earned money.
Being born and raised here I’d really enjoy having that terminal for events there! They should finish the job.
My son works for ADOT, and has worked maintenance in the tunnel--he has told me the actual situation with the buses. The entry ramps onto the freeway from the bus station are too short to safely reach freeway speed (the entry ramps entered the left lane--"fast lane"). The bus drivers' union would not allow the buses to use the entry ramps because of this. Because the build was already complete, the ramps could not be changed, so the bus idea was given up.
I'm sorry to hear that, and it seems like such a waste and poor planning!
I would love to see this bus tunnel get used! It would be so cool to take an elevator up to the park
I know originally the light rail was not on Central. However, now that there is light rail on Central, the elevators would serve a greater transit base. I feel that because of the light rail, there is even more reason to use the bus tunnel again! It would also be awesome to have artwork as you go up.
It would be cool to see a commuter rail line -- or even high speed rail line -- run through the tunnel, with a station under Hance Park that connects to Light Rail and future BRT or Streetcar lines/expansions.
That sounds like an incredible idea! A commuter or high-speed rail line running through the tunnel would greatly enhance connectivity. Having a station under Hance Park that connects to the Light Rail and future BRT would create a major transit hub, making the area more vibrant and accessible. I know the west side of the I-10 was built to house some sort high-capacity transit.
@@Urban_Avenues -- just remember where you first heard this brilliant idea 😉 ...I would like to request naming rights for the "Schubert Transit Hub"! lol ...but seriously, it has been a dream of mine for a while to see rail in that section of the tunnel (especially before ADOT tries to do something dumb with it).
A commuter rail would slay
I'm glad the neighborhoods fought against as much as they could. Too many neighborhoods get torn apart for highways!
I remember if you wanted to get on the I-10 West to California, you had to drive down to 35th Avenue and McDowell Rd. I - 10 hadn't been started yet. I remember also going down to the tunnel during the opening of the tunnel and walked around. It was massive. I also remember I-60 ending at Power Rd. There were two lanes that just dead ended into about 8 cement barriers and just dirt and desert beyond. It was a very long drive out there. I always said back in the 90s that they should get that bus terminal going. It wasnt a secret to me. Ive always known about it.
The insane height of the 1973 plan was supposed to try to minimize disruption on the ground. The idea was that they wouldn’t need to demolish all that many homes between interchanges.
It's wild that they thought building it so high would fix all the problems. It would still lead to a much lower quality of life and cause health issues.
This is amazing ! Super helpful info, thanks for doing this.
I've often thought it could be used for the HOV lanes so another general-use lane can be added to the freeway each way in the tunnel. An actual bus or rail station there would be preferable, of course.
Cool AZ history. Thanks.
It should be turned into Phx version of the Seattle underground .
Woah, thanks for sharing. GO JAMIE!
All Interstates should come with Interstate rail lines running at 125 MPH or higher like Brightine is doing to connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles... Next stop, Phoenix?
So maglev it is
Could happen, the idea makes sense
I don't know why the don't run the light rail through there.
I loooove how cities and other municipalities carelessly blow tax dollars with such abandon and just go "oops" when it ends up sputtering out. San Francisco's Powell Street BART station has a tunnel that has been walled off for as long as the system has been in existence. I once saw an opening and how the tunnel bends south. I think it would have been for the Yerba Buena area. I think it was used in the filming of THX-1138, but now, it just sits and sits and sits. These cities should be held accountable for this waste and stop just being so dismissive and/or flippant about waste-assing our hard-earned money.
Light rail or Boring Company!
It seems like this plan got...bus-ted up 😥
Nice to see where 12 news got their idea.