Phoenix Central - Transportation

CITY NEWS: HISTORIC TOKENS SOLD OUT?
- 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

CITY NEWS: PHOENIX BUS SERVICE CHANGES SET FOR JAN. 23, 2012?
- 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 2011 milestones
- 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 holiday and December special events service schedule?
- 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

METRO Holiday Train rolls into service 12/9/2011
- 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

Copyright (c) 2008-2012. Al Jones for Phoenix Central Neighborhood Association. All rights reserved.