Subject: MESA MAIN STREET BRT STUDY OPEN HOUSES Date: Monday, September 25, 2006 8:27 PM To our Friends in Mesa and the East Valley _____ MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT MESA MAIN STREET BRT STUDY OPEN HOUSES Valley Metro, the region's public transportation provider, is working to implement the Mesa Main Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. This high capacity transit project is included in the region's program of public transportation investments that will be funded through the passage of Proposition 400 by Maricopa County voters in 2004. Valley Metro is currently collaborating with the City of Mesa to conduct a study of alignment options, vehicle options, and priority treatments to implement the project. The Mesa Main Street BRT project is scheduled to begin operations in late 2008 to coincide with the start of METRO Light Rail Transit (LRT) service. Two open houses are being held to inform residents and interested parties about the project, and receive comment on project alignment, station, and design options. Poster boards will be displayed along with handouts and a Powerpoint slide presentation. Staff from Valley Metro, Mesa, and the consultant team will be available to describe the project, explain options, answer questions, and receive feedback. Snacks will be provided. The day, time, and location of the meetings are provided below. Downtown/West Mesa Thursday, September 28, 2006 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Room 170, Mesa City Plaza 20 East Main Street (NE corner of Center Street & Main Street) Mesa, AZ 85201 Served by Valley Metro Routes 45, 104, & Red Line East Mesa Tuesday, October 3, 2006 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Red Mountain Branch Library 635 North Power Road Mesa, AZ 85205 Served by Valley Metro Route 30 BRT is a new, high quality transit service that operates on city streets with enhancements to improve travel time and service attractiveness. The Mesa Main Street BRT project is one of five arterial BRT corridors identified in the Regional Transportation Plan that will be funded through Proposition 400. The Mesa Main Street BRT will operate between the planned light rail transit (LRT) terminal at Sycamore in Mesa and Power Road. Alignment options are being considered in Downtown Mesa and on Southern Avenue. A possible service extension to the Superstition Springs Shopping Center will also be considered by the study. The 11-mile Mesa Main Street BRT line will include new vehicles and upgraded stations. It will also have improvements to increase operating speed, which may include queue jumpers (lanes at intersections to bypass backups) and traffic signal priority. For more information, please contact: · Heather Gray, Acting Public Information & Communications Director, City of Mesa, 480-644-3332, heather.gray@cityofmesa.org · Susan Tierney, Valley Metro Public Information Officer, 602-262-7433, stierney@valleymetro.org