With ION’s per-kilometer construction cost being $43 million, which seems quite reasonable, this is more or less in line with the per-mile construction cost of the Phoenix MetroRail light rail transit system which was U.S. $70 million. MetroRail opened in the late 1990s over 20 miles of right of way and having 28 stations. At that cost, included in it was equipment (trains), an equipment (train) storage yard, maintenance facility, overhead catenary, a double-track line, etc., all coming in at the grand total of U.S. $1.4 billion. Initial ridership projections at the time of opening was 26,000 per day. It was right on the money. The single-day ridership high was, for a long time, 43,000. This has probably been surpassed. I rode the line end-to-end twice. Both times the ride was most enjoyable!
The other thing I would like to say is that your photos add so much to your Substack post. Well done!
Thank you for your comment, Alan. I haven’t been to Phoenix, but I look forward to visiting. ION is a big outlier in Canada. There is going to be a second phase of the construction hopefully starting soon, so we will see the price tag this time.
Also, thank you for mentioning my photos. I’m a visual learner, so this helps me convey and receive messages.
With ION’s per-kilometer construction cost being $43 million, which seems quite reasonable, this is more or less in line with the per-mile construction cost of the Phoenix MetroRail light rail transit system which was U.S. $70 million. MetroRail opened in the late 1990s over 20 miles of right of way and having 28 stations. At that cost, included in it was equipment (trains), an equipment (train) storage yard, maintenance facility, overhead catenary, a double-track line, etc., all coming in at the grand total of U.S. $1.4 billion. Initial ridership projections at the time of opening was 26,000 per day. It was right on the money. The single-day ridership high was, for a long time, 43,000. This has probably been surpassed. I rode the line end-to-end twice. Both times the ride was most enjoyable!
The other thing I would like to say is that your photos add so much to your Substack post. Well done!
Thank you for your comment, Alan. I haven’t been to Phoenix, but I look forward to visiting. ION is a big outlier in Canada. There is going to be a second phase of the construction hopefully starting soon, so we will see the price tag this time.
Also, thank you for mentioning my photos. I’m a visual learner, so this helps me convey and receive messages.