Friends of Transit Weekly Update

April 18, 2008

Friends,

Thank you all for your support of the Friends of Transit Tuesdays program. We have helped over 150 businesses along the light rail line during the heaviest months of construction. After nearly a year of lunch events, mixers and raffle prizes, the Tuesdays program will be concluding at the end of April. We hope you’ll continue to support the businesses along the light rail line as we gear up for the grand opening in December. Stay tuned for details on the Friends of Transit Tuesdays Finale on April 29- we’ll have our biggest drawing yet and you won’t want to miss it!

Friends of Transit Tuesdays:
April 22, 2008 Lunch Location

April 15, 2008 Prize Drawing Winners

In the News:

Summit looks at ways to utilize mass transit, The Arizona Republic, April 14, 2008
Group wants Thomas Rd, not I-10, for rapid transit, The Arizona Republic, April 15, 2008
Phoenix Public Transit E-News for April 17, 2008

Don’t forget to visit Friends of Transit on the web at www.friendsoftransit.org!

On Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Friends of Transit Tuesday
is proud to feature:
Urban Campfire
921 E. University Drive, Tempe

The first 100 customers will receive half off their lunch bill (up to $5)!
Discount offered 11:00am – 3:00 pm
Please present this email to receive discount.

Plus, don’t forget to put your name into this week’s prize drawing box– $500 in prizes will be given away! Win one of these great prizes:

● $100 to Salon Bossa Nova, 903 S. Rural Rd, Tempe (3 chances to win)
● $25 to Cyprus Pita Grill, 920 E. University, Tempe (4 chances to win)
● $20 to Chill, 1250 E. Apache Blvd, Tempe (5 chances to win)

Urban Campfire is a smokehouse restaurant featuring barbequed meats such as pulled pork and ham. Smoked on site, these meats produce a rich flavor and aroma that you can’t miss as soon as you walk in. There are also salads, sandwiches and soups, plus unforgettable sloppy Joes and ribs. Come in today to try Urban Campfire’s delicious menu and relaxed atmosphere!

View Urban Campfire’s Menu

See you Tuesday! Tell your Friends!

Thanks to everyone who joined us on April 15 at:
Best of Philly
2818 N. Central Ave, Phoenix

We gave away $500 in prizes in our weekly drawing! The winners are:
Gene Nance, Sandy Coons, Kate Stack and Darenna Rainsdon - $50 to FEZ, 3815 N. Central Ave, Phoenix
Stephanie Fulk-Higgs, Jeremy Campbell, Juan Morales and Cynthia Ruiz - $50 to Ide Mania, 3825 N. Central Ave, Phoenix
Shawna Browne, Harry Hendler, Robert Flores and April Brent - $25 to The Wild Thaiger, 2631 N. Central Ave, Phoenix

Summit looks at ways to utilize mass transit
by Cecilia Chan
Apr. 14, 2008 12:51 PM
The Arizona Republic

Experts are touting a transit system as a necessary component to livable Valley communities.

West Valley leaders gathered Friday at Peoria's Rio Vista Recreation Center to learn how to improve the quality of life in their communities. Leadership West, hosted the annual summit.

"Our metropolitan area is just growing by leaps and bounds," said Wulf Grote, project development director for Valley Metro Rail Inc. "Every 10 years, we are adding 1 million people to the population in the Valley."

Despite fairly significant spending for transportation over the past six to seven years, the Valley can't keep up with the demand for more roads, Grote said.

In densely populated areas, mass transit can move people more efficiently than automobiles, he said.

Transit also helps improve air quality, provides a transportation option for those either too old to drive or who no longer want to deal with congested roadways and promotes economic growth along rail corridors, Grote added.

Maricopa County has seen a number of successful efforts to fund transportation projects, including the passage of Proposition 400, which continued a half-cent sales tax for 20 years. The monies are funding 27 of the Valley's new light rail system's 53 miles, Grote said.

And the Maricopa Association of Governments is now developing a strategic plan for further possible commuter rail.

"There's been a lot of hype about rail," Grote said. "But a rail system by itself is not an efficient transit system. You need bus and rail together to make a system that people will use and want to use in the future."

James Book, acting deputy executive director operations with Valley Metro, gave advice on how to establish a successful transportation plan, including establishing a citizens oversight committee and building community support, which creates ownership .

He said that in most communities where polls are conducted, residents generally are in favor of a transportation plan and are willing to fund it.

Some communities that have successfully passed a tax to fund transportation projects include Peoria, Glendale and Goodyear, he said.

Transit advocate David Schwartz said 40 percent of voters would vote for a transportation plan regardless if it's good or bad. To secure the additional 20 percent needed to pass a plan, Schwartz recommended that officials do research on their voters and come up with a good plan.

"If you have done your homework, it's the plan and the ability to understand the plan that is going to sell voters," said Schwartz, executive director of Friends of Transit, who has worked on a number of transportation elections.

"I'm very happy to see you present a mix of transit, light, heavy, etc.," said Peoria Councilman Ron Aames, . But "I don't see much in stations being built to link the various types of transits like commuter and light."

Grote said the link between all the transportation modes is important and that part of the MAG study would look at how to connect the systems.

The summit also focused on education and neighborhood design.

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Group wants Thomas Road, not I-10, for rapid transit
by Dolores Tropiano
Apr. 15, 2008 01:24 PM
The Arizona Republic

A neighborhood group wants the city to slow down and reconsider Thomas Road as an alternative to the I-10 for rapid transit.

The Phoenix City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday to put rapid transit along I-10 west between I-17 and the Desert Sky Mall (75th Avenue and Thomas Road), including parts of west Phoenix and Tolleson. Options would include rapid-transit buses and light rail.

The I-10 route is based on an 18-month study that analyzed possible transit improvements in the area. The I-10 West is one of the most frequently used sections of the Valley's freeway system and rapid transit could provide residents a option for commuting and curtail congestion.

Sean Horan, a Phoenix community activist said Thomas Road in Maryvale was ruled out as an alternative too early. He wants more time for research. He is frustrated by attempts to get information from Metro about how studies were done. Metro made the recommendations based on studies it conducted.

"We are basically saying that rather than create a new service on I-10, where demand is limited to rush hour, they should be considering upgrading existing bus lines with high capacity rail-based transit in Maryvale," Horan said.

Light rail often brings new businesses and improvements to areas, and Horan believes it could help cut down crime in this high density area and help with revitalization efforts.

City and Metro officials were not available for comment.

The issue will be taken up at the 3 p.m. meeting Wednesday of the Phoenix City Council, which meets at City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson Street.

Phoenix Public Transit E-News for April 17, 2008

PUBLIC INVITED TO OPEN HOUSES AND A PUBLIC HEARING ON CHANGING PHOENIX BUS ROUTES

With the implementation of light rail service into the regional transit system, on December 29, 2008, a number of local bus routes in Phoenix will be modified. Phoenix bus riders and the general public are invited to a series of open houses and a public hearing to learn about those changes and to give their input.

The local bus routes in Phoenix most impacted include: Red Line, most of the bus route will be taken over as a light rail route; Blue Line, shortened and renamed; Route 0-Central Ave., reduced bus service frequency on a portion of the route served by light rail; Route 15-15th Ave., extended north to serve Metrocenter Transit Center and to the south to serve Sky Harbor Airport; and Route 13 - Buckeye and Route 60-Bethany Home, route changes to connect to light rail stations and schedule adjustments.

Bus Service Changes Open House dates:

May 6, Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington, Room A, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
May 7, Central Station, Central Ave. & Van Buren, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
May 8, Metrocenter Transit Center, Metrocenter Mall, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
May 14, Sunnyslope Transit Center, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
May 15, South Mountain Community Center, 212 E. Alta Vista, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
May 20, Ed Pastor Transit Center, Central Ave., & Broadway, 2 – 4 p.m.
May 21, Aviation Department, Sky Harbor Airport, Terminal 3, West Mezzanine, 6:30 – 8:30 a.m., 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Bus Service Changes Public Hearing date:

June 4, Phoenix Public Transit Department, 302 N. First Ave., First floor, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Members of the public not able to attend the open houses or public hearing can send comments to PubTrans@phoenix.gov or by writing to “Phoenix Bus Service Changes”, 302 N. First Ave., #900, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Comments will be accepted until June 6, 2008.

FRIENDS OF TRANSIT, inc.
a 501 (c)(3)
P.O. Box 36916
Phoenix, AZ 85067-6916
(602) 818-1024
info@friendsoftransit.org