Sun Link Grand Opening
Tomorrow is a big day here in Tucson. Sun Link (Tucson's Modern Streetcar) will officially start public service after more than three years of planning and construction. For those of us involved with Old Pueblo Trolley, Inc., it's one part of our mission accomplished. Old Pueblo Trolley was founded in 1983 by local Tucsonans who wanted to see streetcars return to Tucson as a form of public transportation. I've been with OPT over a decade and remember when the target date for the Modern Streetcar was "someday". That day has arrived.
Of course, I will be off work tomorrow attending the Grand Opening ceremony downtown. Free rides will be offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the public. I don't know that I will ride the cars, seeing as they will be crowded and I have already ridden the streetcar the entire length of the route. During the last few days of testing, Sun Link offered rides for the public officials and organizations that have supported the Modern Streetcar Project. OPT's members got to ride yesterday and we also got a guided tour of the Sun Link Maintenance Facility-something not offered to most other groups. I also visited the Operations Command Center, which is where all of the dispatching and operation of the power supply system and security operations are controlled from. I had a number of questions regarding safety and security operations and the folks there were quite informative. I was impressed with the level of the operations and their planning to address areas where their capabiitie are currently lacking. Having been in this business over twenty years, I have had the opportunity to visit many streetcar and subway systems and see the maintenance and operations sides of the the organizations that the public rarely (if ever) sees. Not only is this information nice to know, but as it appears that we will soon be operating public services with our vintage streetcar on this system (once we complete assembly, testing and driver training), we will be working with the dispatchers and operations staff.
There's plenty of work yet ahead, but now's a fine moment to pause and reflect on what we've acheived so far.
Of course, I will be off work tomorrow attending the Grand Opening ceremony downtown. Free rides will be offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the public. I don't know that I will ride the cars, seeing as they will be crowded and I have already ridden the streetcar the entire length of the route. During the last few days of testing, Sun Link offered rides for the public officials and organizations that have supported the Modern Streetcar Project. OPT's members got to ride yesterday and we also got a guided tour of the Sun Link Maintenance Facility-something not offered to most other groups. I also visited the Operations Command Center, which is where all of the dispatching and operation of the power supply system and security operations are controlled from. I had a number of questions regarding safety and security operations and the folks there were quite informative. I was impressed with the level of the operations and their planning to address areas where their capabiitie are currently lacking. Having been in this business over twenty years, I have had the opportunity to visit many streetcar and subway systems and see the maintenance and operations sides of the the organizations that the public rarely (if ever) sees. Not only is this information nice to know, but as it appears that we will soon be operating public services with our vintage streetcar on this system (once we complete assembly, testing and driver training), we will be working with the dispatchers and operations staff.
There's plenty of work yet ahead, but now's a fine moment to pause and reflect on what we've acheived so far.