Once again, Friends of Transit held its 6th Annual Conference at the METRO Operations and Maintenance Center, and it was a huge success! We had 250 attendees for the sold-out event. Below is a recap of our program and a list of our dynamic speakers, and in answer to numerous requests, the presentations given are available for download from the links provided.

All conference attendees were given the opportunity to ride the light rail train. Our group rode in two linked trains at speeds up to 43 mph. We also were the first passenger group to be aboard a train going over the bridge in the light rail yard.

Our appreciation goes out to everyone at METRO who made our conference possible, and a special thanks to the conference volunteers.

Scroll down for photos!

Sixth Annual Friends of Transit Conference Program
Friday, March 21, 2007
METRO Operations and Maintenance Center
8:00 am – 1:30 pm

Welcome

Mayor Phil Gordon, City of Phoenix

State of Transit Address

	Tom Simplot, Chairman, METRO
	David Boggs, Executive Director, Valley Metro/ RPTA
	Rick Simonetta, Chief Executive Officer, METRO

Panel Discussion: Economic Impact and Development Along the Light Rail Line
Moderator: Grady Gammage
Panel Members:

	Randy Levin, Vice President for Commercial and Urban Development, SunCor
	Jeff Moloznik, Director of Development, RED Development
	Debra Friedman, Vice President, ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus

Panel Discussion: A Balanced Statewide Transportation Plan
Moderator: Jack Tevlin
Panel Members:

	John McNamara, Director of Community Planning and Design, DMJM Harris
	Martin Shultz, Vice President of Government Affairs, Pinnacle West Capitol Corp.
	Paul Miller, Chairman, Arizona Transit Association

Lunch Program: Sixth Annual “Friend of Transit” Award

Recipient: Associated General Contractors

Experiencing Light Rail: Ride on the Train

	Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon gave welcoming remarks to the 250 conference attendees.
	Phoenix Councilman Tom Simpot introduced State of Transit speakers Rick Simonetta and Dave Boggs.
	Dave Boggs, Executive Director of Valley Metro/ RPTA gave one portion of the annual State of Transit Address.
	Rick Simonetta, Chief Executive Officer of METRO presented information for the State of Transit Address.
	David Schwartz, Executive Director of Friends of Transit presented gifts to the members of the first panel, “Economic Impact and Development Along the Light Rail Line.” (l to r) David Schwartz, Moderator Grady Gammage, Randy Levin, Jeff Moloznik and Debra Friedman.
	Members of the second panel, “A Balanced Statewide Transportation Plan.” (l to r) Moderator Jack Tevlin, John McNamara, Martin Shultz and Paul Miller.
	(l to r) Amanda McGinnis and Friends of Transit Chairman Jack Tevlin with the Sixth Annual Friends of Transit Award. Ms. McGinnis accepted the award on behalf of the Associated General Contractors for their support of the Friends of Transit Tuesdays Program.
	US Congressman Ed Pastor spoke to the conference attendees over lunch.
	Conference attendees had the opportunity right the light rail at the end of the conference.
	The conference attendees were the first passenger group to ride the light rail train over a bridge in the METRO Operations and Maintenance yard.
	The view from the train operator as conference attendees returned to the passenger station at the end of the light rail train ride.
	About 200 passengers took advantage of the train ride, experiencing speeds up to 43 mph.