Pain Train Leaves Trail of Carnage, Broken Bodies, Damaged Vehicles

Here’s one way for public transit to compete with private cars and pedestrians sharing the same road: run them down and knock them out of your way.That’s what the Phoenix metro area Pain Trains are doing. Quite literally.One more person would be alive today if lite rail hadn’t been foisted upon the Phoenix metro area.Many more people’s bodies would be whole today if lite rail hadn’t been foisted upon the Phoenix metro area.Salvage yards would be a little emptier if lite rail hadn’t been foisted upon the Phoenix metro area.Area hospitals would have treated fewer ER patients if lite rail hadn’t been foisted upon the Phoenix metro area.It’s a grim fact that lite rail has left a trail of badly injured people, damaged vehicles, and sadly – one fatality. We knew this boondoggle would be inefficient and a drain on communities and taxpayers; we just didn’t imagine the carnage.As of this summer there had been 118 accidents and counting between the Pain Trains and vehicles and pedestrians.One person was run over and mutilated by the Pain Train and dragged for miles before the train was stopped. Another person was pinned under the Pain Train but – fortunately – rescued. Others have been pinned up against structures by the Pain Train. We’re talking some serious spinal injuries and more.The poor planning involved with the Pain Train has led to dozens and dozens of collisions with vehicles. At least Portland is smart enough to run its lite rail away from high volume surface roads. Phoenix isn’t that smart. Neither is Tempe. Or Mesa. The Pain Trains are right out there on busy rush hour streets out-muscling cars at intersections and people waiting in boarding areas.So, let us take a solemn moment of silence for the departed and those maimed by the Pain Train, a blight on and a clear and present danger to our communities.Watch your step.