From: "Friends of Transit NEWS" To: "Friends of Transit NEWS" Subject: Mayor's State of the City Speech Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 5:50 PM Attached is an excerpt of the Mayor's State of the City Speech that addresses transit. Let's send it to the FOT list w/note from me. Today, Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza gave his Annual State of the City Speech to a packed house at the Hyatt in Downtown Phoenix. Below is an excerpt from the Mayor's speech that discusses transit. You will note from his remarks that things are looking up for transit for Phoenix and the entire region, but we have a ways to go in securing our needed match monies from the federal government. If you would like to view the text of the Mayor's entire speech, you can get a copy by viewing the City of Phoenix website at: www.phoenix.gov/CITYGOV/mayoradd.html Also, we wanted to pass this release about our latest recommended rating on to you (pasted below). And when it comes to implementing the Light Rail system our voters have already approved - we continue to live up to our end of the bargain - and our end of the promise. In the past year: . We have established the final rail alignment. . The station locations have been set. . The maintenance facility has been sited - and has received the necessary approval at the federal level . We have received $34 million dollars from our 50-50 partners in Washington. . The environmental impact study is completed and we fully expect it to be approved by the middle of this year. . By early summer, we'll be in final design . And by this time next year, we hope to have a funding agreement in place for the $500 million dollars in federal funding we need to make this project work. Folks, that funding agreement is the next big step that will lead directly to light rail construction. And for that, we'll need full congressional support. I spent a great deal of time early in this speech talking about heroes. Well on this issue, our hero is Congressman Ed Pastor. Ed has been a tremendous warrior for us back in Washington. I know some believe that Ed has been "An Army of One". But my recent meetings with the rest of the delegation indicate that they are all on board. That is good news for us all, and I thank today every member of our congressional delegation: Senators Kyl and McCain, and Representatives Pastor, Flake, Stump, Shadegg, Kolbe and Hayworth - for their pledge to help us secure the federal grant for light rail. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information, contact: Daina Mann, Communications Manager (602) 744-5592 or (602) 291-RAIL (7245) March 25, 2002 - For Immediate Release Light Rail Project Receives Federal Thumbs-Up, Again The Valley's Light Rail Project has received the U.S. government's Recommended rating for the second consecutive year, according to a report just released by Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The project received the endorsement in the FTA's Annual Report on New Starts, which rates new rail projects nationwide seeking federal funding. The FTA based its recommendation on the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit Project's ridership potential, cost-effectiveness, environmental benefits, local financial commitment for the project and the number of major destinations along the route, among other factors considered. "We've worked hard to plan the best possible light rail system while keeping costs down," said Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit Project Director Wulf Grote. "The continued federal blessing of our project is a good benchmark to show that light rail in our Valley is right on track." Receiving a Recommended rating is considered a significant milestone, because it is one of the requirements for the project to move forward into the final design phase. The rating is also used by Congress to evaluate and make funding decisions for transit projects. The rating is validation that the federal government agrees that light rail is a valuable investment in our community and our future," Grote remarked. "The Valley's population is expected to grow by 50 percent in the next 20 years, and light rail will help us handle that growth." The FTA review is an annual process that continues throughout the development of the project. The FTA ratings and recommendations are updated annually to reflect the changing conditions that occur throughout development, including financing plans, cost estimates, benefits and impacts. The 20.3-mile starter segment of the light rail line is scheduled to begin construction in 2003 and start operations in late 2006. The initial route begins in Phoenix at 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road and travels through downtown Phoenix and Tempe and about a mile into Mesa, ending at Longmore and Main Streets.