skip to main |
skip to sidebar
What
Try transit! New park-and-ride lot now open.
Breakfast celebration featuring the Suns, free transit passes set for Wed., 3/23, morning
The ARRA-funded 7th Avenue/Camelback park-and-ride has opened offering METRO light rail passengers additional and shaded parking. The lot will provide greater access to the transit system and is well-timed considering the growth in ridership and gas prices.
To celebrate the lot’s opening, METRO, in partnership with the City of Phoenix, the Phoenix Suns and Hunter Contracting Co., will offer free breakfast and transit passes to those who want to try transit the morning of March 23!
Come down to be some of the first to park in the new lot, grab breakfast from neighboring food purveyors Copper Star Coffee, America’s Best Taco Shop and Fry’s and enjoy the energy of the Phoenix Suns Gorilla! Finally, hop on board light rail with one of the 100 free all-day transit passes provided by Hunter.
There will also be an opportunity to enter a drawing for Phoenix Suns/US Airways Center ticket packages!
When
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
7:30 – 9 a.m.; comments at 8 a.m.
Where
West end of the 7th Avenue/Camelback park-and-ride lot. The lot is located on the southeast corner of the intersection.
Who
All riders, new and existing, and neighboring residents and business owners of the lot are encouraged to attend.
Speakers will include:
METRO CEO Steve Banta
METRO Board Chairman and Phoenix Councilman Tom Simplot
Representative from Hunter Contracting Co.
The Phoenix Suns Gorilla J
Source: Metro Light Rail
P.F. CHANG’S MARATHON WILL DETOUR BUS AND LIGHT RAIL SERVICE
Passengers should check routes before traveling.
Bus routes and light rail service in Phoenix will be affected when the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon rolls into town on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011. Several bus routes will be detoured to allow for the event.
Both full and half marathons will start at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, near Washington Street and 14th Avenue in Phoenix and will finish on Packard Drive between ASU’s Sun Devil and Sun Angel Stadiums in Tempe. All roadways surrounding the Arizona State Capitol area will be closed to traffic beginning at 4 a.m.
Over 30,000 runners are expected to run the race through the streets of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. The race routes will be lined with live bands, volunteers, and spectators.
The event significantly impacts the area east of 7th Avenue and south of Camelback Road. Bus riders are strongly advised to consult www.ValleyMetro.org or call customer service at 602-253-5000 for any route detour updates. Also, it is highly recommended that bus and rail passengers give themselves extra time to reach their destinations. Bus service in Phoenix will be disrupted starting with race preparations at 4 a.m. and continuing during the race until approximately 1 p.m.
List of Phoenix bus routes within the Phoenix Central Neighborhood boundaries severely affected by the detours:
Route 29-Thomas Rd.
Route 41-Indian School Rd.
List of other Phoenix bus routes within the Phoenix Central Neighborhood boundaries affected by the detours:
Route 0-Central Ave.
Route 8-7th Avenue
METRO light rail will not provide morning service to stations north of McDowell Rd. The following stations within the Phoenix Central Neighborhood boundaries will be without service until approximately 10 a.m., or until the race has cleared:
Thomas/Central Avenue
Osborn/ Central Avenue
Indian School/Central Avenue
METRO will provide service to the rest of the line – McDowell/Central Avenue through Sycamore/Main Street – beginning at 5 a.m. METRO will offer 15 minute service before and during the race when traditional Sunday frequency is every 20 minutes. Additional trains will be deployed based on the demand at the race finish area in Tempe. The entire line will re-open once police have indicated the marathon has cleared and it is safe to proceed, approximately 10 a.m.
For more detailed information about the marathon detours, please visit www.ValleyMetro.org or call customer service at 602-253-5000, or follow @phoenixmetrobus and/or @MetroRail on Twitter.
Source: Metro Light Rail
METRO light rail served more than 12.6 million riders in 2010, 11 percent more than in 2009. On average, 39,335 riders traveled using light rail on weekdays, 29,329 on Saturdays and 19,170 on Sundays/holidays.
“It’s been another incredible year for METRO,” said CEO Steve Banta. “Riders continue to use our service in record numbers despite the difficult economy and service reductions in July. 2011 is likely to bring similar financial challenges and they will be met by keeping a customer focus and an eye for where efficiencies can be gained.”
Other notable highlights of 2010:
· METRO has carried nearly 24 million riders over its first two years of operation.
· Reduced number of collisions by more than 50 percent vs. 2009.
· Generated $335,000 in system advertising revenue since program inception in Oct. 2009.
· Installed shade canopies at the 19th Ave. and Central/Camelback park-and-rides.
· Renewed the partnership with US Airways Center and Phoenix Suns to allow event tickets to serve as light rail pass.
· Entered the design phase on the Central Mesa light rail extension to downtown Mesa.
· Received local and regional approval of 2.6-miles of streetcar in the Mill Ave. corridor in Tempe.
· Moved forward with the South Central Feasibility Study in Phoenix.
For more detailed information on METRO 2010 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 12.6 million riders in 2010, exceeding the prior year by 11 percent. METRO serves an average of 39,335 riders per weekday. It is also planning for six extensions that will create a 57-mile system by 2031.
Source: Metro Light Rail
Tomorrow, Dec. 28, METRO light rail will extend its regular service hours and add additional trains to support patrons of the Insight Bowl. After midnight or the close of regular service, trains will continue to run and arrive at stations every half-hour through 2 a.m.
The closest light rail station to Sun Devil Stadium is Veterans Way/College Ave. Event-goers are encouraged to buy an all-day pass from any station fare vending machine for round trip service.
For more information, contact Customer Service at 602-253-5000 or email info@metrolightrail.org. This information is also posted online as a rider alert at www.valleymetro.org.
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
METRO light rail will operate on a Sunday schedule on Christmas Day, Saturday, Dec. 25, and New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1; trains arrive every 20 minutes on Sundays.
On Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec. 24, METRO will operate using a regular Friday schedule, but without late-night service; trains will complete their last full trip from the end-of-line stations at 11 p.m.
On Tuesday, Dec. 28, METRO will extend its regular service hours and add additional trains to support patrons of the Insight Bowl. After midnight, trains will arrive every half-hour through the last full trip from the end-of-line stations at 2 a.m. The closest station to Sun Devil Stadium is Veterans Way/College Ave.
On New Year’s Eve, Friday, Dec. 31, METRO will run regular service, staying open late and adding more trains to support the demand from special events. Trains will complete their last full trip from the end-of-line stations at 2 a.m.
For more information, contact Customer Service at 602-253-5000, email info@metrolightrail.org or click here for METRO’s regular service schedule. This information is also posted online as rider alerts at http://www.valleymetro.org/.
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
Several northwest Valley Express routes also changingThe Phoenix Public Transit Department will provide commuters a different option to get to work in downtown Phoenix later this month, when extended RAPID™ I-17 service begins on Jan. 24, 2011 in far northwest Phoenix. RAPID™ is a limited-stop service that operates on freeways throughout Phoenix, using commuter-style vehicles. The Phoenix City Council approved changes to RAPID™, as well as changes to some Express routes and the Grand Avenue Limited. Details are below.
Express Service
Elimination of Express routes 570, 582, and 590 (each travel on Central Avenue between Indian School and Thomas Roads)
Changes to transit service were made after a study of Express and RAPID™ commuter routes by Phoenix Public Transit planning staff showed high demand in northern parts of Phoenix, and underutilization of Express routes. The changes will save an estimated $300,000 annually.
“We had to look at all forms of transit service for savings and efficiency, including RAPID and Express,” said Phoenix Public Transit Department Director Debbie Cotton. “The changes to I-17 RAPID service will offer an alternative to driving for some users, while allowing us to direct funds to service for Phoenix riders who have provided the backbone of our city’s transit funding.”
More information on RAPID™ and other transit services is available online at http://www.valleymetro.org/, or by calling Valley Metro Customer Service at 602-253-5000.
Source: City of Phoenix Public Transit
Residents can pay to help install, maintain transit furniture
The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department is piloting a new sponsorship program for transit furniture installation and upkeep. In an effort to aid interested individuals in contributing to public transit, the Bus Bench Memorial Program allows for many levels of support, from monthly cleaning of bus stops, to installation of transit furniture at suitable locations. The pilot bus bench memorial program grew from a resident’s suggestion, and is intended to generate additional transit system revenue.
"I would like to thank the District 6 citizen who brought this idea to my office. It is because of resident ideas that new programs like this one are possible,” said Councilman Sal DiCiccio. “I hope residents throughout the city will choose to get involved with the Bus Bench program."
To participate in the program fill out an interest form online, at www.phoenix.gov/publictransit/busbench.html, or call the department with questions at 602-262-7242. A wide range of sponsorships are available, a list is available online. Prices may vary depending on furniture type and location.
Source: Phoenix Public Transit
