From: "Friends of Transit" Subject: $24.5 million for Valley light rail and other Date: Friday, February 14, 2003 10:24 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003 Contact: Maura Saavedra, (602) 252-2653 $24.5 million for Valley light rail and other transportation projects to be okayed by Congress WASHINGTON - More than $24.5 million in federal funding for transportation-related projects in metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson was expected to be approved Thursday by Congress as part of a spending bill that wraps up last year's unfinished business, announced U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz. "Congress has seen the importance of funding these vital transportation projects for Arizona, including the light rail project in metropolitan Phoenix," Pastor said Thursday. "I'm pleased that these funding amounts will be approved because they will help us improve not only the quality of the air we breathe, but also the quality of our lives in these growing areas." Pastor has been Arizona's most vocal leader in rallying Congressional support for these Arizona projects. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and sits on its transportation subcommittee. He represents Arizona's Fourth Congressional District, which consists primarily of central, south, and west Phoenix, the town of Guadalupe and south Glendale. The Fiscal Year 2003 Appropriations Conference Report includes $12 million for the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit Project, a 20.3-mile light rail transit corridor linking activity centers in Central Phoenix, downtown Tempe and west Mesa. In addition to serving large employment centers in the region, the project would also serve major student populations at Arizona State University in Tempe, Gateway Community College, a number of secondary schools, and several sizable sporting events including college and professional teams. Other projects included in the bill are: - $4.2 million for Valley bus maintenance facilities. The current transit fleet exceeds the capacity of the existing maintenance facilities. Therefore, a plan has been developed to meet maintenance requirements. - $3.835 million for Phoenix Bus Replacement for bus services in Phoenix. - $200,000 for Ajo to Phoenix Rural Express Bus Service. In 2001, this route was designed to meet the needs of rural communities along State Route 85. It provided three weekday round-trips and two Saturday round-trips. One-way, the route spans 95 miles and takes approximately three hours to complete. The service utilized eight-, nine- and 13-passenger vehicles that are wheelchair accessible. Larger vehicles are available if demand warrants their utilization. Ridership grew from 104 in January 2001 to 423 passengers in December 2001. Many of the rural communities served by this route did not have medical facilities or pharmacies. Therefore, in many cases, the route served as a lifeline for persons requiring specific medical attention. This funding would help continue this service. - $300,000 for a Southwest Transit Assessment and Review Team (START) project for Bus Route 131 which runs through Avondale. This bus route is the only line providing transportation to major employers in the southwest Valley in Maricopa County. As one of the most under-served areas outside of the immediate boundaries of metropolitan Phoenix, economically disadvantaged southwest Valley residents are in dire need of public transportation to access employment opportunities and to attend school as they pursue higher paying jobs. Ridership grew from 2,000 passengers per month in the inaugural month of January 2000 to 3,800 in December 2001. -And for the Tucson area, $4 million for the Tucson Downtown Intermodal Center, a Union Pacific Depot. This project incorporates a historic train depot building and its contiguous out-buildings into a transportation-focused area in downtown Tucson. This intermodal concept includes public transit, rail, and other alternative modes of transportation while bringing additional new activity into the eastern portion of the city to benefit community economic development. This phase of funding would allow the city of Tucson to: continue with tenant improvements in public areas of the building and site, acquire properties that are vital to the Master Plan area, construct circulation improvements to Sixth Avenue, design and construct an ADA accessible platform for public access, and perform an environmental assessment on potential modifications to the Master Plan.