About Friends of Transit
Friends of Transit was incorporated in 2001 as an Arizona nonprofit corporation. The mission of Friends of Transit is to educate the public on the benefits and importance to the Greater Phoenix community of a well-designed and accessible mass transit system, which represents a major component of a balanced regional transportation plan.
The idea of forming Friends of Transit came about after the Phoenix electorate approved a sales tax increase in 2000 to fund a comprehensive transit system, consisting of improved bus service and the addition of a light rail transit component. As a result of the successful transit elections in the cities of Phoenix and Tempe, several community leaders identified the continuing need to educate the public about the benefits of the voter-approved plans, especially given that some elements of the system would not be implemented for several years following the vote.
Skip Rimsza, then Mayor of the City of Phoenix, led the charge on this initiative and invited more than 40 corporate and community leaders to meet and discuss the need for such an educational organization – thus, Friends of Transit was created and for 10+ years, has continued to educate the general public on the benefits of a balanced transportation system.
Board Members
Maria Tyne, Chair
Jessica Mefford-Miller, Executive Committee
Jesus Sapien, Executive Committee
Mark Peterson
Katrina Heineking
Brian Vladyka
Gary Googins
Jodi Sorrell
Kyle Strickland
Ted Chamberlain
Andrew Haines, Vice Chair
Marc Soronson, Executive Committee
Nick Wiatrowski
Shelly Seyler
Tyler Besch
Melinda Alonzo
Karim Dada
Dustin McGrath
Amy Jenks
Christina Bird, Treasurer

Melissa Boyles, Executive Committee
Gregory Heinz
Ogbonna Abarikwu
Matthew Dudley
James Lauer
Tania Torres
David Schwartz, Executive Director
Transit News
July 11, 2022 – Friends of Transit
Friends of Transit
- Arizona Governor Vetoes Phoenix-Area Transportation Tax Vote, Shocking Local Leaders
“Gov. Doug Ducey shocked local leaders — many of them Republicans — when he vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have allowed Maricopa County to ask voters to extend a half-cent s...
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July 07, 2022 – Friends of Transit
Friends of Transit
- Tempe's streetcar gives more than 24,000 rides in first month
People rode the Tempe Streetcar almost 24,000 times in its first month after opening May 20, according to automatic passenger counters in the streetcar doorways. It's the first modern st...
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