August 6, 2008

In the News:
West Mesa hoping light rail spurs growth on Main, Tribune, August 1, 2008
Light rail PA system adjusts volume to account for street noise, Phoenix Business Journal, August 1, 2008
Grant request filed for transit services, The Arizona Republic, August 4, 2008
Tempe hopes to have buses, light rail working together for commuters, Tribune, August 5, 2008
Business leaders voice light-rail concerns, The Arizona Republic, August 5, 2008
Mayor at helm of Mesa’s first light-rail passenger trip, The Arizona Republic, August 6, 2008
Mayor, city leaders ride light rail into Mesa, Tribune, August 6, 2008

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

 

West Mesa hoping light rail spurs growth on Main
By BETH LUCAS
TRIBUNE
August 1, 2008

Motel owners and managers along west Mesa’s drag of Main Street are eager to see benefits from the coming light rail. They’re banking on the trains — and in some cases major renovations — to bring a new business-traveler clientele.

The light rail’s final stop is near a row of motels along Main Street from Longmore to Alma School Road.

Some hotels are undergoing face-lifts and adding amenities in an effort to attract business travelers who can take the light rail to the airport or downtown Phoenix. The Majestic Guest Inn changed its name to American Executive Inn and is undergoing renovations, including fresh paint and new Wi-Fi services.

Rawl’s Motel, which also owns the adjacent Regency Inn, has undergone renovations in its 47 rooms, replacing all the furnishings and repainting.

Ankit Patel, whose family owns the motels, said the hotel has already been attracting more business people and contractors after Wi-Fi services were installed last year.

“It’s going to increase business,” he said of the light rail, adding that he plans to park at the motel and take light rail to his classes at Arizona State.

Sam Patel, manager of the Tri-City Inn, said he’s hoping the motel will benefit from the light rail, especially in light of the soaring gas prices that could encourage more riders. It’s just a short walk from catching Mesa’s final stop on the light rail, and he said the motel is looking to attract more professional-type people who are traveling or working in Phoenix.

“We’re hoping for it,” he said. “Gas prices are high. But we really don’t know until (light rail) starts in December and after a couple, three or four months.”

Bhabna Solanki, manager of the Plainsman Hotel, said business has been painfully slow, and the motel was hit hard when Wal-Mart closed across the street in order to open a store at Mesa Riverview.

“It’s going to start just a couple blocks from us,” she said of the rail. “We’re thinking more people will be coming out and staying in our hotel. There’s nothing on Main Street anymore. We’re hoping it’s going to be positive when (light rail) opens up.”

Councilman Kyle Jones said he thinks light rail will help “clean up” west Mesa. While businesses have struggled to get through construction of the light rail, he said he believes “in the long run, they’re going to come out way ahead.”

Issues like prostitution, which some say has plagued the area, “just won’t be compatible with new development,” Jones said. “I think the residents will be impacted positively if you get rid of a lot of the negative element that is a problem to them now.”

Hillary Foose, spokeswoman for Valley Metro light rail, said the presence of police officers, security guards and more people around the rail could also help ease safety concerns in west Mesa.

Mesa is seeing some of that growth, as land has begun to exchange hands.

Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh, whose district includes the west Mesa segment of light rail, said it’s already causing a surge of interest in land along and near its tracks.

New apartments, stores and even a classic car lot are among ideas generated along West Main Street, he said. And density is also under discussion: The future of the stretch will likely include two- and four-story buildings with both stores and condos.

It’s hard to set a timeline on when West Main Street could transform, partly due to the economy slowing down development, said Shelly Allen, Mesa’s assistant economic development director. But the city is seeing a variety of proposals, and already some new developments have begun to take shape in the area or move forward. Mekong Plaza, a 100,000-square-foot Asian shopping center is expected to open in October on the southwest corner of Dobson Road and Main Street, and plans for the proposed West Main Station, a development that will have 55 townhouses and 13 stores, are moving forward on the 1300 block of West Main Street.

“We’ve had considerable interest in that area,” Allen said.

Mesa spokeswoman Holly Walter said the light rail is running along one of the busiest travel corridors with the highest rate of bus ridership, and as a permanent system it is attractive to developers planning for the long term.

Managers and leasing agents at the three major apartment complexes along Mesa’s mile of light rail say they’ve struggled through the construction of the rail, but are banking on a new demographic of residents. Their occupancy rates dipped from the high 90 percentages to, in at least one case, below 80 percent. Some have had to lower rent by more than $100 a month.

But they’re starting to see new growth in tenants, some even coming to live along the light rail. They include college students as well as people who work in Tempe or Phoenix.

“I’m from Portland, and I used the MAX (light rail) a lot, to go all over the place,” said Jennifer Hayes, manager of the Midtown on Main Street complex. “It’ll be amazing for this area.”

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Light rail PA system adjusts volume to account for street noise

Friday, August 1, 2008

Phoenix Business Journal

by Yvonne Zusel

When the Metro Light Rail starts running in December, it will use a sound system that will enable riders to hear announcements, no matter how loud the street noise.

Announcements at each light rail stop will be adjusted by volume based on the ambient noise level, according to Jay Harper, interim director of operations for Metro Light Rail.

A volume meter installed at each platform senses noise levels and sends the information to an amplifier, which then makes volume adjustments. So if outside noise gets louder, the announcement volume gets turned up. If the street noise quiets down, so do the announcements.

The public address system was developed by GE Advanced Communications Systems, a division of GE Trans­portation Systems Global Signaling.

Hillary Foose, a light rail public information officer, said accessibility was important when designing the transportation system.

"Public transportation is for everyone, and Metro's happy to be another safe and reliable option for the region come December," Foose said.

The technology, which has been used successfully in other cities, was installed for a variety of reasons.

Harper cited customer service and safety as the top priorities. In addition, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that newly built transit systems provide passengers with impaired or limited vision the same access to information as other passengers.

"The Metro system was built with taxpayer support, so we are diligent in our efforts to provide proper service for all passengers," Harper said.

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Grant request filed for transit services
by Brent Whiting
Aug. 4, 2008 10:05 AM
The Arizona Republic

The Gila River Indian Community has been asked for help in funding transit services in the Sun Cities and Youngtown.

The $10,000 grant was requested in a grant application filed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on behalf of Sun City Area Transit, or SCAT, officials said.

The money, if allocated, will be used to help cover costs for transporting residents to recreation centers in their communities, said Deanne Poulos, a board spokeswoman.

SCAT dial-a-ride services carry people to and from the centers, Poulos said.

Max Wilson, a member of the board of supervisors whose district includes the retirement communities, said he supports the funding request, adding that the county enjoys a good relationship with the Gila River community.

"We aim to assist county residents as we can to enhance quality of life," Wilson said.

The county is expected to learn this fall whether the grant request will be approved, officials said.

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Tempe hopes to have buses, light rail working together for commuters
City seeking public input on potential route changes
By MIKE BRANOM
TRIBUNE  
August 5, 2008

Tempe transportation officials want light rail and the bus system to complement each other, not get in the other’s way.

That’s why the city is asking for the public’s input on potential changes to more than a dozen bus routes.

An open house for residents will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Tempe Public Library, 3500 S. Rural Road.

People can also leave comments online at www.tempe.gov/ tim/bus/dec08buschanges.htm until Aug. 19.

Once transportation officials have listened to the public’s suggestions, the proposed changes will go before the Tempe Transportation Commission on Sept. 9 and the Tempe City Council on Sept. 11 for consideration.

The alterations would go into effect on Dec. 29 — the first day of light-rail service.

Key to the proposed changes on many routes is tying the buses to light-rail stations. The goal is to create a seamless network for commuters.

In a few cases, changes are limited to running routes past the stations. In other cases, light rail will handle the traffic into downtown Tempe.

For example, riders of Route 1 — from the state Capitol complex east along Washington Street — can now reach Mill Avenue and Arizona State University after transferring to a train at the Washington/Priest station.

Route 81, which runs along McClintock Drive/Hayden Road from Chandler Fashion Center to north Scottsdale, will save some time because of light rail.

The detour to ASU has been eliminated; anyone heading to the campus can catch a train at Apache Boulevard and Mc-Clintock.

Targeted routes under consideration for changes:

Red Line
Route 1- Washington
Route 30- University
Route 40- Apache/Main
Route 56- Priest
Route 65/66- Mill Kyrene and 68h St/Mill
Route 72- Rural
Route 76- Miller
Route 81- McClintock
Route 920 48^th Street/Guadalupe
Route 108- Elliot
Orbit Mercury
Orbit Jupiter
Orbit Mars
Flash

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Business leaders voice light-rail concerns
by Ron Sanzone
Aug. 5, 2008 03:31 PM
The Arizona Republic

Though generally supportive of light rail, local business leaders still have lingering questions about service and construction.

At a monthly downtown coffee Tuesday hosted by Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon, about 150 business leaders expressed both support and concern over the $1.4 billion project to bring the first 20 miles of light-rail to the Valley later this year.

The project has generated support from public transportation advocates, as well as criticism from business owners who complain that their bottom line has been negatively impacted by construction near their shops and offices.

Members of the largely supportive audience asked Gordon and Metro light rail CEO Rick Simonetta why the train was not running directly to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and why roads have been blocked off for light rail work when none was being done. Gordon and Simonetta said that the trains are not going to the airport because people using light rail to travel to work would not want to suffer the hassle of additional stops at Sky Harbor. They also said that light rail plans to build a light-rail station near the airport with a connecting people mover.

Concerning construction, the mayor and CEO conceded that because of the size of the project, officials had made some errors and a few of the inconveniences that have made business owners and residents grumble were avoidable. Gordon said that the city has learned which contractors and good and which are not.

"We have learned some things," Simonetta said. "We need to be much more accessible . . . we're going to be out of your way very soon."

Marvin Rochelle questioned why light rail in Phoenix will run only to Dunlap Avenue and not to the Valley Metro bus station at the Metrocenter mall. Simonetta said running the line to Metrocenter had been a consideration, but the additional three miles of track, as well as the fact that ADOT is not yet ready to approve light-rail crossing over Interstate 17, meant that building north of Dunlap would have caused too much delay for the whole system.

Despite a recent spike in the price of commodities such as steel and concrete, light rail is on budget, on schedule and 92 percent complete, Gordon and Simonetta said. Within the next few weeks, light-rail trains will begin running regularly on downtown Phoenix streets.

Light rail debuts on Dec. 27 and about 50 drivers, many from the ranks of Valley Metro's bus drivers, are being hired.

Light-rail officials are also putting the final touches on 28 stations and completing work on the project's electrification.

"It's the nation's largest, most complex light-rail (starter line) ever built," Simonetta said. The initial 20 miles of light-rail that will expand to 57 by 2025 are unusual in that they run entirely along urban streets.

John Rigoli of Phoenix was impressed by what he heard from Gordon and Simonetta. "These guys know what they're doing," he said. "They have an entrepreneurial spirit."

Scottsdale resident Gregg Heidbreder believes that high gas prices have effectively refuted light-rail critics.

Rigoli and Heidbreder have invested in several downtown properties in the last several years. "I absolutely wouldn't have invested if not for the hopes, dreams and aspirations of light-rail," Heidbreder said.

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Mayor at helm of Mesa's first light-rail passenger trip
by Gary Nelson
Aug. 6, 2008 12:38 PM
The Arizona Republic

The driver of the first carload of light-rail passengers ever to ride into Mesa knew he couldn't mess up.

But in case he did and people got hurt, he had a backup plan - hand out business cards from one of his day jobs.

That way Scott Smith, attorney at law, could handle lawsuits brought on by the malfeasance of Scott Smith, rookie train engineer.

Fortunately the mayor made no mistakes, just as his wife, Kim, predicted. "He can fly an airplane, so I think we're OK," she said as he nursed the sleek contraption from its berth in east Phoenix on Wednesday morning.

Besides, Smith's top speed was only 13 mph. After he relinquished the controls to light-rail professional Carmon Wright, Smith held an impromptu news conference as the train glided to its top cruising speed of 35 mph.

Smith led a contingent of Mesa dignitaries riding the train as a preview to the Dec. 27 launch of the Valley's 20-mile light rain system, which extends from Mesa's Sycamore Street station to north Phoenix.

The most frequently uttered adjective as the passengers disembarked: "Cool!"

Sally Downey, chief administrator of East Valley Institute of Technology, whose campus is a stone's throw from the Mesa station, used a few more syllables.

"Very, very awesome," she said as she gushed about the possibility of Metro, the light-rail company, partnering with her school to train operators and mechanics.

Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh used the ride as a scouting mission of sorts.

"I picked out my spots for the football and basketball games," the avid Arizona State University sports fan said, relishing the thought of not having to drive to downtown Tempe for those events.

Smith said light-rail lines he's seen in Denver and Salt Lake City have proven wildly popular despite initial public skepticism.

"Any debate about whether mass transit will work in a Western city, I think, is over," he said. "Why would we be different?"

Smith and other passengers noted numerous redevelopment projects springing up along the route through Tempe, and predicted the same will happen in Mesa.

An early priority, Smith said, will be to revamp Mesa's zoning laws to allow flexible rail-oriented development. The previous City Council left that as an unfinished piece of business.

Mesa also has to decide where to route the line's likely future extension into downtown.

Smith said he's still open on that question and added, "If it goes down First Avenue, then First Avenue is going to become the main street" through downtown.

In coming decades, Smith said, he hopes to see light rail extend all the way to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

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Mayor, city leaders ride light rail into Mesa
BETH LUCAS
August 6, 2008 - 1:27PM
TRIBUNE

The light rail rolled into Mesa with the city’s first passengers Wednesday morning — an inaugural ride kicked off with Mayor Scott Smith behind the wheel.

City and business leaders gathered early in the morning for a 25-minute preview ride from Valley Metro light rail’s operations facility in east Phoenix through Tempe and then onto Mesa’s .96-mile of rail to the East Valley’s end-of-line station at Sycamore and Main Street.

Templar: Mesa's light-rail future depends on more track

Smith, an experienced pilot, got behind the wheel of the train and drove it through the first half-mile to the end of the maintenance yard.

“Is everyone still alive?” he said to the curious crowd of a couple dozen as he stepped back from the driver’s seat. “That was fun,” he added, comparing it to an X-box game. “No one should get paid for actually doing that.”

Driver Carmen Wright took over as the train continued into Mesa — honking lightly as it passed intersections and onlookers.

The train pulled out onto Washington Street from the depot and onto tracks largely in the middle of busy roads, over Tempe Town Lake and looping around Arizona State University. It smoothly sped up to as much as 40 miles per hour, matching speed limits. Average speeds are 22 miles per hour, including stops.

City officials hailed the coming rail, even though its trip through Mesa isn’t even a full mile. Smith, who was among officials who recently visited Denver and tested the light rail there, said it could change people’s daily routines.

“People don’t realize, but it changes their habits,” Smith said.

Addressing a crowd after deboarding the train around 10 a.m., Smith said, “This is the start of something great. Light rail changes a community.”

City and Valley Metro officials predict that it will draw business to the area and also alleviate crowded freeways and help residents avoid rising gas prices and rush hour stress.

Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh, whose district includes the rail line, called the ride “incredibly smooth,” and said he’d already made plans to take it to ASU games since it passes right by Sun Devil Stadium.

The ride was “thrilling,” said Stephanie Wright, co-chair of the Mesa Grande Alliance which advocates on behalf of west Mesa residents. She said the area needs the help to prompt an economic upturn, and many residents are eager for the new option to get to work or sporting events.

Mesa is still studying with Valley Metro whether to expand the rail three miles into Mesa, and whether that expansion should go directly through downtown Main Street, or be diverted to First Avenue or First Street through downtown.

Crystal Russell, chairwoman of the Downtown Mesa Association, said businesses already struggling downtown could go out of business if they have to suffer through construction — causing Mesa to end up with chain stores instead of the unique shops it has now. She argued that First Avenue is a better route to prevent harm to Main Street and also help develop the side streets to become an extension of the downtown business core.

“It’s going to be very painful for the downtown people, especially those on Main Street,” she said. “Main Street right now is struggling.”

But Smith said that diverting the rail from Main Street could also alter the downtown, and make First Avenue the ‘new downtown.’

As the train traveled toward Mesa, he joined other passengers and debated the future of rail, arguing that ultimately it should go all the way to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, a key economic niche for the city.

Sally Downey, superintendent of the East Valley Institute of Technology, predicted the light rail will bring more adult students to a growing number of night training programs offered at the Mesa campus, located just east of the end of the line at Longmore and Main Street.

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