Purchase passes TODAY to ride the light rail July 4

July 2, 4:52 PMPhoenix Travel ExaminerJay Hammond

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Copyright J. Hammond 2009. All rights reserved.

Do your weekend plans include the Fabulous Phoenix 4th or Tempe Town Lake 4th of July Festival?

If so, you might consider adding the Valley Metro Light Rail to your plans as well.

Those planning to ride the light rail on Saturday, July 4, will need to purchase a special all-day transit pass by visiting the Central Station or the Tempe Transportation Center. Both stations are closed July 3 and 4 so you will need to purchase today, July 2. The all-day pass cost the same as two one-ride passes but only requires a single visit to the fare vending machine. Platinum Pass/U-Pass users should validate before each ride.

All available trains will be in service on July 4, however, system capacity is expected to be at maximum. In other words, expect crowds especially after the events. Metro will be running a normal Sunday service in order to support event traffic. Those attending the Fabulous Phoenix 4th or July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival will be able to ride the light rail trains both to and from these events.

Fabulous Phoenix 4th

The Campbell/Central Ave. and/or the Indian School/Central Ave. light stations are the closest light rail stations to Steele Indian School Park. Both are even walks to the park's Central Ave. entrance at Glenrosa.

When departing the Fabulous Phoenix 4th, those heading to the South or East Valley should use the Indian School/Central Ave. station. Those who are westbound to the North or West Valley should use the Campbell/Central Ave. station. Splitting the traffic in this way will help shorten the lines at both stations.

July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival

All passengers should plan to arrive and depart from the Mill Ave./3rd St. light rail station. The departing queue will be located on Mill Ave., north of 3rd St. Staff will be on hand to assist passengers to the eastbound or westbound platform.

The Independence Day weekend marks the start of Metro's extended weekend service. Beginning Friday, July 3, service will be provided until after 2 a.m.

Parking at the Metro park-and-ride lots is FREE on a first-come, first-serve basis. Park-and-ride lots are located at Montebello/19th Ave., 19th Ave./Camelback, Central Ave./Camelback, 38th St./Washington, Dorsey Ln./Apache Blvd., McClintock Dr./Apache Blvd., Price 101 Freeway/Apache Blvd. and Sycamore/Main St.

If any of these lots fill up, overflow parking opportunities for July 4 ONLY are located at:

• Park Central Mall - Earll Dr., west of Central Ave.; designated "retail only parking" spaces
• 38th St./Washington - east on 38th St. and the Metro park-and-ride; Gateway Community college parking lot
• Dorsey Ln./Apache Blvd. - north of Apache Blvd., west of Doresy Ln.; behind retail building
• Price 101 Freeway/Apache Blvd. - southeast corner of the Metro park-and-ride; accessible using the same entrance
• Safeway - north of Main St., west of Sycamore and the Metro park-and-ride
• East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) - south of Main St., east of Sycamore; use the entrance off of Longmore.

It's no secret that Valley residents and visitors love their cars. But let's be honest: parking in downtown Tempe or Phoenix is annoying at best and impossible at worst. Why not avoid the whole mess and ride the light rail instead?