January 12, 2010

Friends,

Please plan on joining Friends of Transit for the 8th Annual Conference on Friday, February 26th  (click here for more information). 

Between now and then, the Weekly Update will highlight some of the speakers and topics that will take place at the Conference.

First of all, Friends of Transit is pleased to announce that Mesa Mayor Scott Smith has agreed to kick-off the Conference with an update on the Regional Transportation Plan and why transit is such an important part of a balanced plan.  Attendees may also expect to hear about efforts under way in the City of Mesa to expand Light Rail into their city and how it will benefit their community in ways that go beyond simply providing another way to get around.

For those Friends who have observed the evolution of transit in the Region, you have undoubtedly noticed Mayor Smith has come onto the scene with a great command of the importance of transit.  His visionary grasp of the issue is phenomenal and is paired nicely with his amazing sense of humor and candor.  

If you are interested in learning about how Transit is Moving Forward, you won't want to miss this presentation by Mayor Smith - and the rest of the program for the day. You can view details on the rest of the program on our website at www.friendsoftransit.org.  Registration is now open!

In the News:
The Valley of the Sun ACT Chapter announces new Board of Directors, Association of Commuter Transportation, January 7, 2010
Mesa looks into getting private funding to develop light rail line, The Arizona Republic, January 7, 2010
New bus 12-mile route will link SE Valley cities to light rail, The Arizona Republic, January 12, 2010

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

 

The Valley of the Sun ACT Chapter announces new Board of Directors
January 7, 2010
Association for Commuter Transportation

Phoenix, AZ: The Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT), Valley of the Sun Chapter (one of 12 nationwide) has named its 2010-2012 Valley of the Sun Board of Directors. Through advocacy, networking and information sharing, ACT supports individual mobility management professionals and organizational members in their efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

President – Eddie Caine, Valley Metro – has been active in the field of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and Telework since 1990. Eddie currently works with a team of professionals at Valley Metro that supports the 1,200+ employers in the Clean Air Campaign and the Maricopa County Trip Reduction Program.

Vice-President – Judi Nelson, Arizona State University – has worked as the Transportation Manager of Arizona State University which encompasses four campuses for a total of over 70,000 students and 10,000 employees.

Secretary – Pat Soria, Maricopa County – has 25 years of Public Administration experience at Maricopa County and currently serves as the County’s Transportation Coordinator managing a $1.5 million commuter benefits program for an employee population of 12,000.

Treasurer – Juana Hernandez, Salt River Project - has been involved in air quality and transportation issues as the travel reduction coordinator for SRP’s more than 4,000 employees. During this time, Juana has developed an interest in finding solutions to the Valley’s air and traffic congestion problems.

Membership/Newsletter Director – Lillian Duarte, Valley Metro – has been in the transit industry for nearly 23 years and has worked with Trip Reduction Program employers to implement their programs in the Valley for the past nine years. Lillian also works to promote clean air efforts through planning and implementation of an annual Clean Air Awards program & luncheon. Page 2 ACT – Valley of the Sun Chapter

Programs Director – Suzanne Day, Valley Metro – has nearly 20 years experience working in the transportation industry through outreach and support to the Travel Reduction Program employers and efforts to reduce congestion and air pollution. Suzanne is also the primary planner of Valley Metro’s annual Great Bike Chase which is a family fun-ride dedicated to promoting bicycling as an alternative mode.

Pima County Director – Ruth Reiman, Pima Association of Governments (PAG) – is the Travel Demand Management Manager at PAG in Tucson, AZ will be the representative from Pima County. Ruth has been with PAG for two years and manages the Pima County Travel Reduction Program for major employers and Sun Rideshare, the alternative mode outreach program for the region.

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Mesa looks into getting private funding to develop light rail line
by Gary Nelson 
Jan. 7, 2010 04:34 PM
The Arizona Republic

Mesa is in the "pre-infancy" stage of looking into whether private money could help pay for - and speed up - construction of its next leg of light rail.

Mike James, who oversees Mesa's mass transit programs, told Mayor Scott Smith in an e-mail that he met in late November with executives from Sundt Construction Inc. and with Alan Wulkan, a nationally known, Valley-based transit consultant, to talk about the idea.

"I am interested in any approach that can reduce project costs and deliver the project earlier," James told Smith in his e-mail.

The next step, James told The Mesa Republic, will be a meeting between Smith and the business representatives.

James said it was the private parties who first approached Mesa with the idea. "There was nothing really specific," James said. "It's kind of in its pre-infancy."

But in return for helping to finance construction, a company might, for example, receive property development rights or even acquire city-owned property along the light-rail right of way, James said.

Smith has said repeatedly in the past that Mesa is willing to hand over some of its numerous downtown properties to developers willing to bring money and jobs to the long-struggling district.

A bill passed last year by the Legislature allows private parties to submit unsolicited proposals to partner with governments on transit projects.

Hillary Foose, spokeswoman for Metro light rail, said Metro has not yet been included in the discussions. But she said Sundt was the lead contractor for the Mesa-Tempe leg of the initial light rail line.

"Sundt's been a good partner to us," Foose said. "They had relationships and worked well with the city folks."

Wulkan, a managing partner for the Scottsdale-based consulting firm InfraConsult, did not return a request for comment. Nor did John Carlson, business development manager for Sundt.

But Wulkan, who has advised cities across the country on light rail, has praised the tremendous development potential that such projects can open up.

In November he spoke to officials in Hillsborough County, Fla., who are considering a light rail project for the Tampa area. Referring to the Valley's $1.4 billion system that opened a year ago, he said, "There has been $7.4 billion in non-rail development along that 20-mile line. Over 17,000 residential units. Over 9 million square feet of commercial. Over 3,200 new hotel rooms."

All of those projects to date have been built in Phoenix and Tempe. But Mesa hopes for the same result along West Main Street, especially once it implements a new zoning code designed to foster transit-oriented development.

At present, it is expected that regional and federal money will pay for the $227 million extension of Mesa's line from the Sycamore station to near Mesa Drive.

But already, lagging regional sales taxes have pushed the expected completion back a year, to 2016. "Anything we can do to help our funding," James said, "we're going to be looking into that."

Meanwhile, James said Mesa is nearing crucial design decisions for the extension.

A "stakeholders" committee has been meeting monthly to recommend station locations and whether to narrow Main Street to two lanes of traffic in the downtown district once the tracks are laid.

There'll be at least one public meeting to discuss the group's recommendations, James said, before the City Council makes final decisions in a few months.

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New bus 12-mile route will link SE Valley cities to light rail
by Edythe Jensen 
Jan. 12, 2010 09:26 AM
The Arizona Republic

Two Southeast Valley mayors and councilman will stand on the southwestern corner of Arizona Avenue and Elliot Road Thursday to kick off construction of 20 new bus stations for a LINK bus route that will serve their municipalities.

Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith and Gilbert councilman Les Presmyk will wield the ceremonial shovels at the 3 p.m. Thursday, which is open to the public.

THE ROUTE:

The 12-mile route runs mostly along Arizona Avenue, which becomes Country Club Drive in Mesa. The service will feature sleek, $700,000 buses making about 40 weekday daily trips from a south Chandler park-and-ride lot at Tumbleweed Park, along Gilbert's western boundary and to the light rail stop in Mesa at Main and Sycamore streets. It will be Chandler's first direct tie to light rail service and the Valley's second Bus Rapid Transit line.

THE PRICE TAG:

Cost of the project is $11.6 million, and it's being paid for with federal stimulus dollars. Work includes shelters, landscaping, lighting, utility relocation, data and power hook-ups, dynamic messaging signs for bus arrival information, fare vending machines and bike racks.

It was supposed to be funded by Proposition 400 money, but the downturn in sales tax revenues would have stopped this project had stimulus funds not been available, said Valley Metro spokeswoman Susan Tierney. In preparation for the service, Chandler and Maricopa County spent about $13 million on road and signal modifications and the park-and-ride lot.

WHEN WILL LINK SERVICE START?

Buses are expected to be running by July. Tierney said during construction her agency will work with Chandler to coordinate with city construction projects along Arizona Avenue that also will restrict traffic through downtown.

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