February 21, 2008

Friends of Transit Mixer:
February 26, 2008 Mixer- Join us for this FREE event at Macayo’s Dept Cantina in Tempe, 5:30-7:00 pm!

Friends of Transit Tuesdays:
February 19, 2008 drawing winners

In the News:
Redevelopment Bustling Near Mesa Light Rail Stop, The Arizona Republic, Feb 17, 2008
Phoenix Transit E-News for Feb. 19, 2008

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

 

On Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Please join us for a
Friends of Transit Mixer
at:
Macayo’s Depot Cantina
300 S Ash Ave, Tempe

Enjoy free appetizers and receive a free drink coupon
compliments of Friends of Transit!
5:30 – 7:00pm

Occurring at the 300 S. Ash Ave location ONLY!

Plus, win great prizes!
Don’t forget to put your name into the prize drawing box for a live drawing the night of the Mixer – over $500 in prizes will be given away!

● $100 to Mill Avenue Jewelers, 414 S. Mill Ave, Tempe (2 chance to win)
● $50 to Rula Bula,  401 S. Mill Ave., Tempe(4 chances to win)
● Free Massage to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, 1112 E. Apache Blvd, Tempe (4 chances to win)

See you Tuesday!  Tell your Friends!

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Thanks to everyone who joined us on February 19 at:
The Wild Thaiger
2631 N. Central Ave, Phoenix

 

We gave away $500 in prizes in our weekly drawing! The winners are:
Irma Carrasco and Debbie James - $100 to Stuff Antiques, 4206 N. Central Ave, Phoenix
Lisa Kemper, Sarah Ruhlen and Georgette Stathis- $50 to Fez, 3815 N. Central Ave, Phoenix
Jeremy Campbell, Darenna Rainsdon and Kristin Roberts - $50 to Switch, 2603 N. Central Ave, Phoenix

 

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Redevelopment bustling near Mesa rail stop
Jim Walsh
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 17, 2008 12:00 AM

While some businesses close after months of construction along Mesa's portion of a light-rail line, redevelopment activity continues on the corner closest to the city's only station, the Sycamore Transit Center.

A Phoenix architect filed an application with the city's Planning Department for a site-plan modification that would allow expansion of Tri-City Pavilions, a shopping center that in part replaced Tri-City Mall at the northeastern corner of Dobson Road and Main Street.

Mark Bowker, the architect, wrote that six buildings with heights varying from one to three stories would be added to the shopping center.

The application, filed Jan. 18, said the buildings would be for office and retail.

"This is a project (to) bridge between the shopping centers of the past and the urban light-rail developments of the future," Bowker wrote in his application.

He declined to comment, saying his client, J.G. Management Co. of Westlake, Calif., doesn't want to discuss the project until after a meeting with planning officials scheduled for Feb. 25.

The application said that buildings would be near the rail line to attract business from riders. Metro light rail is scheduled to open in December.

Mike James, Mesa's deputy transportation director, said it makes sense that developers would focus on the transit center because it combines light rail with a bus-transfer station and park-and-ride lot for 800 vehicles.

The lot would be surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and have closed-circuit security and security guards.

"It really becomes a hub. It's all the transit, as well as the park-and-ride," James said, drawing more activity than a conventional station.

He said the businesses opening near the transit would be market driven. It should help the Safeway and nearby International House of Pancakes, James said. A Denny's and Taco Bell recently closed near the route.

Developer David Goldberg of Detroit proposed a 224-unit condominium project next to the transit center, which would serve as the eastern end of the 20-mile starter line.

It's possible the line could be extended through downtown Mesa by 2015, near the Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the route became an issue last summer and has not been chosen.

The expanded line would run past West Main Street Station, another condominium development at the former site of Tracker Marine about one-half mile east of the present end station.

James said a decision on the extension's route is about a year away. Officials plan to wait for service to start on the rail line so Mesa residents can envision the possible benefits.

 

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PUBLIC INVITED TO DASH RE-DO
Phoenix’s Downtown Circulator to get a Make-over
 

Downtown Phoenix is growing and the long-time downtown circulator DASH is changing with it. Inspired by Mayor Phil Gordon’s 2007 State of the Downtown speech, the Phoenix Public Transit Department is proposing a partial change to the DASH route and its frequency of service.

The new DASH routing will link it directly to light rail, scheduled to start in December 2008, and local and commuter buses that bring workers and students into the area. All changes will be done within the current budget. Also, the nine DASH buses are scheduled for a new paint job.

The public is invited to three open-houses, which will be held outdoors, to review the proposed changes:

February 26, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Central Station, Central Avenue and Van Buren
March 19, 2 to 4 p.m., Phoenix Convention Center, 2nd St. and Adams
April 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Phoenix City Hall, Washington and 3rd Avenue

A public hearing on the changes will be held before the Citizens Transit Commission on April 3 at 302 N. Central Ave. before a report goes to Phoenix City Council.

For more information, please visit Phoenix Public Transit’s web site at phoenix.gov/publictransit/newdash.html or call (602) 262-7242.

 

METRO RAIL CONSTRUCTION NEWS 

METRO construction crews are working hard to minimize impacts on traffic and to maintain customer access to businesses. Get the latest information on restrictions online at www.vallymetro.org/METRO_light_rail

MetroLightRail.org/Traffic

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