skip to main |
skip to sidebar
It is 100 degrees, let the cooling begin at the NRG solar-powered light rail station.
Earlier than scheduled, passengers can now take advantage of a cool wait
PHOENIX, AZ — At the 3rd St./Washington light rail station in downtown Phoenix, passengers can now enjoy the chill of a solar-powered cooling system as they wait for the next train. The system, which launched last summer, is being activated earlier than scheduled due to the heat spike. The system typically operates May 1 – September 30.
Via a public-private partnership between the City of Phoenix, METRO light rail and NRG Energy, Inc., the company’s NRG Thermal and NRG Solar subsidiaries built the innovative system using solar power and the company’s downtown district cooling system. The district cooling system also air-conditions such prominent downtown facilities as Chase Field, Symphony Hall and the Phoenix Convention Center.
The 3rd St./Washington station is a highly-trafficked platform thanks to the busyness of downtown Phoenix and especially during Arizona Diamondbacks games. The station features push buttons near each seating area that provides blasts of cool air on demand.
About METRO
METRO is responsible for the development and operation of the region’s high-capacity transit system. The first 20-mile light rail line opened December 2008 and served 13.2 million riders in 2011, exceeding the prior year by four percent. METRO serves an average of 40,000 riders per weekday. It is also planning for six extensions that will create a 57-mile system by 2031.
About NRG
NRG is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use energy. A Fortune 500 company, NRG is a pioneer in developing cleaner and smarter energy choices for our customers: whether as one of the largest solar power developers in the country, or by building the first privately funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure or by giving customers the latest smart energy solutions to better manage their energy use. Our power generating facilities can support over 20 million homes and our retail electricity providers—Reliant, Green Mountain Energy Company and Energy Plus—serve more than two million customers. More information is available at http://www.nrgenergy.com.
Source Metro Light Rail
Date: Sunday, March 11, 2012
Strike Status: A strike has been called by the Amalgamated Transit Union local 1433 against their employer Veolia Transportation Services for their contracts with the cities of Phoenix and Tempe. The affected Valley Metro bus routes may have reduced service or no service depending on the number of drivers and backup-drivers available to Veolia.
Schedule / Buses Running: Sunday schedules are in effect as of now; buses may not run a full schedule today. The percentage of Veolia Transportation Services buses for Phoenixrunning is at 24% of scheduled services. On the regular schedule, buses would start at different times in the day and operators are scheduled on shifts. The impact to bus service will change throughout the day.
Background: Veolia / Phoenix Bus operators represented by the union drive 31 of the 101 Valley Metro bus routes in the regional system. Adding in Veolia / Tempe bus operators brings the number of routes up 19 to a total of 50 of the 101 Valley Metro bus routes.
Contingency Schedule: No weekday contingency schedule in effect.
Passenger Information: Bus schedules on line at http://www.ValleyMetro.org or by calling Valley Metro customer service at (602) 253-5000 during business hours.
A summary of service operated as of this advisory is listed below:
Veolia Transportation Services (VTS)
Route Description Service Level
0 Central Avenue Reduced
8 7th Avenue Reduced
First Transit
Route Description Service Level
29 Thomas Road Normal
41 Indian School Road Normal
For updates:
Follow Phoenix Public Transit on Twitter @PhoenixMetroBus
http://www.phoenix.gov/publictransit
http://www.facebook.com/cityofphoenix
Source: Phoenix Public Transit
1930s Transit Tokens Sold Out at Phoenix Transit Centers
Phoenix Public Transit announced today that it has run out of the historic transit tokens it was selling as a part of Arizona's centennial celebration. The token sale was also meant to celebrate the City of Phoenix milestone of 125 years of continuous public transit service. 3,000 tokens were sold, starting on Jan. 3, 2012.
The 1930s tokens date back to when buses and electric streetcars operated under the name Phoenix Street Railway. Cash was the common form of payment for a ride but tokens could be used as a handy substitute as they were always good for one fare.
For more information on the tokens and to print off a Phoenix Street Railway token certificate of information, go to http://www.phoenix.gov/publictransit/historictokens.html.
Source: City of Phoenix Public Transit Department
The Phoenix Public Transit Department is notifying riders of changes to City of Phoenix Valley Metro bus routes, effective on Jan. 23, 2012.
The changes are listed below:
Local bus routes 0-Central Ave. and 8-7th Ave. will have service modified in south Phoenix to accommodate the 77-Baseline Road extension.
More information on bus service changes, including route and schedule information, is available at http://www.valleymetro.org, or by calling 602-253-5000.
Source: Metro Light Rail
METRO light rail served 13.2 million riders in 2011, an increase of four percent over 2010. On average, 40,712 riders traveled using light rail on weekdays, 31,008 on Saturdays and 20,930 on Sundays/holidays.
“Our ridership continues to grow—2011 ridership exceeded the record set in 2010,” said METRO CEO Steve Banta. “More and more of the Valley is opting in to public transit. We look forward to working more collaboratively with regional partners in 2012 to make the transit trip even easier and more appealing for riders.”
Other notable highlights of 2011:
Generated $383,000 in system advertising across 2011; approximately 25 percent over budget.
Completed the ARRA-funded, 123-space park-and-ride lot at 7th Avenue and Camelback Road in March, which included shade canopies at this and two existing park-and-ride lots.
Launched a solar-cooled light rail station at 3rd Street/Washington in partnership with NRG and the City of Phoenix in July.
Served nearly 200,000 riders during Major League Baseball’s All-Star week with five, full All-Star train wraps and took part in the All-Star Red Carpet Parade.
Developed a mobile website in conjunction with Local First Arizona that shares the locally-owned restaurants and retail within a half-mile of the line.
Received environmental clearance in July and $35.5 million in the FY 2012 federal appropriations bill signed in November for the 3.1-mile Central Mesa light rail extension.
Determined 13 stop locations and several street configurations for the 2.6-mile Tempe Streetcar project.
Received a $1 million federal grant to conduct a 24-month Alternatives Analysis on the South Central Phoenix corridor.
Received a $2.7 million TIGGER (Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction) grant award for a solar shade structure at the maintenance facility.
For more detailed information on METRO 2011 ridership, click here for the annual ridership report.
About METRO
METRO is responsible for the development and operation of the region’s high-capacity transit system. The first 20-mile light rail line opened December 2008 and served 13.2 million riders in 2011, exceeding the prior year by four percent. METRO serves an average of 40,000 riders per weekday. It is also planning for six extensions that will create a 57-mile system by 2031.
METRO light rail will operate a Sunday schedule on the observed holidays for Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 26, and New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 2. Trains arrive every 20 minutes on Sundays and holidays. Buses will also operate using a Sunday schedule.
On Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, METRO will operate a regular schedule, but without late-night service; trains will complete their last full trip from the end-of-line stations at 11 p.m.
For the Insight Bowl on Friday, Dec. 30, and New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31, METRO will run regular service with additional trains to support pre- and post-event crowds. On Friday and Saturday nights, trains complete their last full trip from the end-of-line stations at 2 a.m. (the following morning).
Please use the below chart as reference:
Holiday/Special Event
Christmas Eve – Saturday, Dec. 24
Regular – no late-night service
Christmas Day (Observed) – Monday, Dec. 26
Sunday/Holiday service
Insight Bowl – Friday, Dec. 30
Regular – Enhanced to serve special event service
New Year’s Eve – Saturday, Dec. 31
Regular – Enhanced to serve special event service
New Year’s Day (Observed) – Monday, Jan. 2
Sunday/Holiday service
For more information, contact Customer Service at 602-253-5000, email info@metrolightrail.org or click here for METRO’s regular service schedule.
About METRO
METRO is responsible for the development and operation of the region’s high-capacity transit system. The first 20-mile light rail line opened December 2008 and served 11.3 million riders in 2009, exceeding all first-year ridership projections by 45 percent. METRO continues to serve an average of 41,000 daily riders and refine its 20-mile operation. It is also planning for six extensions that will create a 57-mile system by 2031.
Source: Metro Light Rail
To spread holiday cheer and show continued gratitude to riders, METRO light rail will release a specially-decorated holiday train into service on Friday, Dec. 9. It will stay in service through Sunday, Dec. 18.
The train will be adorned inside and out with seasonal décor promoting the idea of holiday shopping along light rail. To discover hidden, locally-owned restaurant and retail gems along METRO, visit m.shiftarizona.com from your smart phone or home computer. This site was developed in partnership with Local First Arizona to help residents understand how and where to spend local this holiday season and year-round.
Follow the Holiday Train on @METROrail’s Twitter using hashtag #trackthetrain. Send us your photos when you catch a glimpse or as you’re on board. Your photo submission enters you to win holiday giveaways.
Note: The METRO Holiday Train is a regular service train; fares are required to ride.
About METRO
METRO is responsible for the development and operation of the region’s high-capacity transit system. The first 20-mile light rail line opened December 2008 and served 11.3 million riders in 2009, exceeding all first-year ridership projections by 45 percent. METRO continues to serve an average of 41,000 daily riders and refine its 20-mile operation. It is also planning for six extensions that will create a 57-mile system by 2031.
Source: Metro Light Rail
