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Forwarded to PlanPHX Leadership Committee and appropriate city department
Thoughts on PHX Union Station
The interior of Phoenix Union Station
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This idea is meant in some ways to expand upon this one:

http://tinyurl.com/9aejs23

I strongly agree that Amtrak needs to return to Phoenix, specifically to Union Station.

What I'd like to propose in this idea is what can be done with Union Station today, and how it should be expanded in the future:

1. Union Station is currently being used as a warehouse type space for Sprint telecommunications equipment. The City should work to find another warehouse location for Sprint. Then Union Station should be given the TLC it so badly needs, restoring its former beauty.

Once the building is renovated it could be put to all sorts of positive use while we wait on Intercity rail and MAGs Commuter rail. Most easily it could be turned into a rentable space for events, weddings, conventions, meetings, et cetera. Here's a list of train stations all across the country that have been converted:

http://tinyurl.com/9oh728z

2. Once InterCity Rail & Commuter Rail happen, Union Station will need to be expanded. Its a gorgeous but rather quaint station that likely won't fit the needs of a major metropolis. The City should abandon 4th Ave from Union Station to Jefferson St and convert it into a new terminal/station that feeds into the existing historic station.

The current Central Bus station could then be shuttered, moving the buses to the main Union Station. Adding Greyhound & other City bus service at the new Union Station would be great as well. The Light Rail West extension would connect via a stop @ 4th Ave/Jefferson.
If the City really wanted to think big they could demolish the parking garage on the NE corner of Jefferson/4th Ave and build a new City Square /park which would make a dramatic welcome into Downtown Phoenix.

Go here for a list of impressive train stations we should be modeling Union after:

http://tinyurl.com/ybn239m

Or here for a map visualizing my plan for Union Station the immediate surroundings:
http://goo.gl/maps/vuvoL

More Info:
My Vision for Union Station - Google Maps
6 Comments
  • Jim M18

    by Jim M18 Read Jon Talton's reflections about Phoenix's Union Station here: http://roguecolumnist.typepad.com/rogue_columnist/2010/01/phoenix-101-union-station.html

    Oct 19, 2012 at 10:58 PM  
  • comment icon

    by Derek H1 Seconded, and added some thoughts of my own for 4th Street: http://www.myplanphx.com/shaping-phoenix-s-future/4th-avenue-pedestrian-mall-farmer-s-market

    Oct 19, 2012 at 6:20 PM  
  • comment icon

    by Derek H1 Imagine walking out of the cool historic Mission revival building, walking under a canopy of trees past shops and eateries and shoe shine stations, and suddenly the tree canopy opens up near Jefferson where you find "a huge bike share station, Light Rail, and a gorgeous public square flanked by skyscrapers."

    Oct 19, 2012 at 9:18 PM  
  • Will Novak

    by Will Novak Derek, while the buses and rail aren't ON 4th Ave, I do think it makes a big difference. A big part why Denvers 16th St Mall (and other ped malls) work is because the buildings along it are gorgeous. The buildings along 4th Ave in PHX are parking garage and a freakin' jail. Not so nice.

    But if you turn 4th Ave into an indoor terminal, those things don't matter. They'd become the backside walls of shops, eateries, shoe shine stations, et cetera.

    Additionally, the thing I like about making 4th Ave an indoor terminal is it sort of controls people's access into Downtown.

    Imagine popping out at 4th Ave and Jefferson from a huge, beautiful modern train station (after having just walked through a cool historic Mission Revival building) onto Jefferson where you find a huge bike share station, Light Rail, and a gorgeous public square flanked by skyscrapers. It would provide that "wow this is a big city" moment that Phoenix sorely lacks in my estimation.

    Oct 19, 2012 at 8:23 PM  
  • comment icon

    by Derek H1 Yes, I meant 4th Avenue, thanks!

    Your plan doesn't put buses or any kind of rail on 4th Avenue, so it shouldn't matter if it's indoor or outdoor.

    Oct 19, 2012 at 8:16 PM  
  • Will Novak

    by Will Novak do you mean 4th Ave?

    Im imagining 4th Ave becomes a wholly indoor space, as the current Union Station will be too small for buses, intercity buses, light rail, commuter rail, intercity rail, Amtrak, etc.

    Check out my Google map with my proposed layout.

    Oct 19, 2012 at 6:41 PM  

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