Light Rail Arrives in Phoenix (and Mesa and Tempe)

December 26, 7:05 PMPhoenix Travel ExaminerJay Hammond

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Copyright J. Hammond

December 27, 2008 marks the beginning of a new era in Valley transportation. No longer will residents and visitors need to rely on buses or their own personal vehicles to get around. Beginning Saturday, they can take the train as new light rail systems open in three Valley communities.

TEMPE

Destination Tempe is a week-long celebration of the Valley's new $1.4 billion light rail system. Tempe is home to nine stations, including the new Tempe Transportation Center at the base of A-Mountain near Mill Ave. and the main campus of Arizona State University (ASU). Tempe Town Lake Bridge connects Tempe's light rail service to surround communities and adds another attraction to the Phoenix area. Each time a train crosses the bridge it will be chased by brilliant colored LED lights in shows designed by Color Kinetics.

Copyright J. Hammond

Destination Tempe events begin with the dedication of the Transit Center at 9:30 a.m., December 27 and last all weekend. After the Grand Opening Ceremony, enjoy live entertainment by Chuck E Baby & the All Stars, Ringo McLennonSon and 2 sets from the Chris Parker Project before headliners Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers take the stage at 4:15 p.m. and rock in a fireworks display at 5:30 p.m.

The weekend celebration at Veterans Way and College Avenue also includes a food court, beer garden, a farmer's market and a variety of activity tents. Additional celebrations and activities are also being held at Washington St./Priest Dr., Mill Ave. and Third St., Dorsey Dr./Apache Blvd. and the Price 101 Freeway/Apache Blvd.

Copyright J. Hammond

MESA

The public is invited to join Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, Mesa City Manager Chris Brady, Mesa District 3 Council Member Dennis Kavanaugh Valley Metro Executive Director Dave Boggs and Rick Simonetta, Metro Light Rail CEO for It All Starts Here, the Grand Opening ceremony of Mesa's light rail service at 9:40 a.m., December 27 at the Sycamore Transit Center on Main St. and Sycamore in Mesa. Following the ceremony, there will be live entertainment culminating with performances by Grand Funk Railroad from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PHOENIX

The Grand Opening celebration in downtown Phoenix will take place at 3^rd St. and Washington St. It begins at 9:20 a.m. with a ceremony hosted by the Phoenix City Council. The open house of the recently renovated Phoenix Convention Center follows and includes live performances by the Groove Merchants and Pete Pancrazi, interactive sports displays by the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Phoenix Suns and playoff-bound Arizona Cardinals (and cheerleaders!) as well as a variety of street performers and food vendors. It's a great opportunity to discover what's new downtown now that the light rail construction is over.

The construction of Phoenix's new transportation alternative has been both annoying and controversial since voters approved the project a decade ago. Saturday's gala and star-studded Grand Opening ceremonies and celebrations are intended to convince residents and visitors that the light rail is a viable and even desirable alternative method of getting around the Valley. Don't let the excitement fool you. Only time will tell whether riding the rails will again become a tradition this time in the new West.