by bryan | Jun 4, 2011 | light rail corridor, News & Information, Valley Metro
by Emily Gersema – Jun. 4, 2011 The Arizona Republic The countdown has begun for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game and FanFest events that begin July 8, and Metro light rail is celebrating early. The Valley transportation agency on Friday unveiled the new MLB All-Star advertising wraps that visitors and residents will see on the cars of the light-rail trains during the month leading up to the game and fan events. The All-Star Game is July 12 at Chase Field in Phoenix. The wraps include images of eight past All-Stars, including Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton, who is on the ballot for this season’s All-Star voting and was named All-Star FanFest spokesman earlier this year. The wraps also feature these players with All-Star credentials: New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton and Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. Hillary Foose, a spokeswoman for Metro light rail, said that in all, six light-rail cars will display the wraps. All six will be in service by the end of next week. No public money was used for these promotions, she...
by bryan | May 29, 2011 | Light Rail Business, light rail corridor, News & Information, Real Estate Development
by Emily Gersema – May. 22, 2011 The Arizona Republic It’s been about a year since the first tenant opened in downtown development CityScape, and if all goes as planned, RED Development expects its 1.8 million-square-foot office and retail project to be completely leased by this fall. Gold’s Gym was the first business to move into the development that is bounded by First Street and First Avenue and by Washington and Jefferson streets. It was followed by a series of monthly openings by stores such as CVS/pharmacy, entertainment venues such as Lucky Strike Lanes, and new offices for five Phoenix law firms. About a half-dozen other retailers, restaurants and bars are expected to open by September. To name some: Oakville Grocery, Breakfast Club, Chipotle, Strand, Silk Sushi and Tilted Kilt. UnitedHealthcare also will move in this summer, consolidating about 600 workers from other Phoenix offices into about 107,000 square feet of space at CityScape’s office tower. A sixth law firm, Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber & Schreck, will move about 15 workers into CityScape sometime in late July. Marty Shultz is the law firm’s senior policy director in the Phoenix office and chairman of the Phoenix Community Alliance, a non-profit organization made up of business and non-profit officials who have largely supported CityScape. Shultz is credited with persuading the firm to become a tenant. “It’s very strategically located,” he said. “You’ve got City Hall downtown, you’ve got the courts, and you’ve got the state Capitol down the street. It’s also near the (Metro) light rail and next to major streets.” City officials estimate that 83,000 people work in downtown offices. RED Development’s development manager Jeff...
by bryan | May 29, 2011 | light rail corridor, Valley Metro
Emergency scenario plays out on bridge Dianna M. Náñez – May. 24, 2011 The Arizona Republic Amber Anaya considers her light-rail ride to work routine but on Sunday she learned her trip could easily turn dangerous without the proper emergency response. Anaya was one of about 40 Valley residents who volunteered for a Metro light rail emergency drill that left her stranded atop a Tempe Town Lake bridge in a smoke-filled train. The drills are done biannually to meet Federal Transit Authority requirements, but this is the first time Metro re-enacted the emergency outside of the agency’s maintenance yard. The drill gave Metro operators and public safety workers the chance to refine interagency communication as they worked to evacuate passengers from the two-car train and off the bridge. But there were lessons for passengers, too, Anaya said. “It makes you more aware of what’s going on around you,” she said. “I would tell people to . . . follow the instructions given by the operator . . . notice where the emergency-door openers are.” As Anaya’s train stopped on the tracks, smoke fogged the air. Anaya said she instinctively reached for the emergency exit. She pulled the plastic cover off the emergency handle waiting for the door to open. But nothing happened. “I was surprised at how quickly it filled up (with smoke). I couldn’t see and you’re worried about how am I going to get the door open,” she said. “Then, another man pulled the doors open. He just pried it open.” The drill allowed Metro and public safety workers to practice planned aspects of the emergency. But...
by bryan | May 8, 2011 | Jobs, light rail corridor, LightRailConnect.com Magazine, News & Information
You can Find over 200 Jobs near light rail in Phoenix-Tempe-Mesa at LightRailConnect. How you do you find jobs near light rail, and enjoy the convenience of working near the light rail line? Easy! LightRailConnect has an agreement with the job posting aggregator Indeed for Jobs near light rail in the Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa metro area.. Where do you find these Jobs near light rail? Simply go to the LightRailConnect Jobs page and click on the Indeed logo. That’s it! Happy hunting. (And, let us know if you like...
by bryan | Apr 29, 2011 | light rail corridor, light rail expansion, News & Information, Valley Metro
First phase of airport’s train to begin operations in early 2013 by Emily Gersema – Apr. 29, 2011 The Arizona Republic Dozens of workers have erected 10,000 tons of steel and 11,000 yards of concrete over recent months to make the pedestrian walkway that bridges Washington Street and the platform for the 44th Street PHX Sky Train station. Commuters who use Washington Street and the Metro light rail have watched the structure develop into a towering bridge near the Grand Canal and 44th Street. The platform where passengers will wait for the unmanned train to take them to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is about 40 feet from the ground. Photos of PHX Sky Train construction he ceiling and roof for the platform have not been built yet, but workers recently installed 17 elliptical steel arches, which will support the roof. Each arch weighs about 35,000 pounds. The platform’s emergence is a milestone for the $1.5 billion project, which crews began building more than a year ago. Media members were invited to take a look at the platform Thursday before workers closed it off for further construction. The interior will be finished, and workers will add moving walkways, escalators and elevators. Construction of the rail is expected to wrap up sometime early next year, said Dave Benjamin, the project superintendent for builder Hensel Phelps. Steve Grubbs, a Phoenix Aviation Department special-projects administrator, told the Aviation Advisory Board last week that workers at a Bombardier plant in Pittsburgh are piecing together 18 rail cars for thetrains, which will be opened to passengers in early 2013 after about a year of testing. Sometime next year...
by bryan | Apr 18, 2011 | Apartments, light rail corridor, News & Information
by Sadie Jo Smokey – Apr. 17, 2011 The Arizona Republic City bought apartments in 2009; buildings renovated Residents may begin moving into five blocks of affordable housing in north-central Phoenix by the end of May. The two-story brick buildings at Park Lee Apartments have fresh paint and new carpeting and appliances. The community clubhouse and three pools look new and sparkling. In December 2009, Phoenix used federal funds to buy the apartments, 1600 W. Highland Ave., to provide stability and affordable-housing options near the light-rail line. Park Lee is closest to the stop at Camelback Road and 19th Avenue. Tom Elgin, who lives in the Grandview Neighborhood east of the 523-unit community, said he’s extremely happy with the city’s effort to clean up the blighted area. “The police used to be there a lot,” Elgin said. “Drugs, graffiti . . . was a real problem. I’d paint over graffiti every weekend. All of that has basically gone away.” Kim Dorney, Phoenix Housing Department director, said the city paid about $5.2 million to buy the community, built in 1955. It consists of 34 buildings and sits on nearly 32 acres. Councilman Tom Simplot, who represents the area, told residents at a neighborhood meeting that city staff uncovered extensive water damage and vandalism in the multifamily community. Some units required extensive electrical repairs and upgrades. Angela Duncan, deputy housing director, said the city budgeted $5.36 million to rehabilitate the community in phases. Approximately 160 apartments will be available to rent by the end of May. Chain-link fencing surrounds the community to deter criminal activity. In July 2010, juvenile-arson-caused fires destroyed 12...
