T h e b l u e S k y V i e w A p u b l i c a t i o n o f v a l l e y m e t r o b u s i n e s s s e r v i c e s Spring 2010 Ride Share Month Events Successful! Valley Metro and Governor Jan Brewer declared February as Try 1 in 5 Month and challenged commuters to leave their cars at home one day per work week. Commuters can save $70 per month by not driving alone in their cars, according to the AAA report Your Driving Costs. Carpooling and vanpooling, using public transportation, telecommuting, biking or walking to work can save as much as $840 in annual car-related costs. Some drivers report saving $156 a month due to the length of their commute, according to Valley Metro data. As part of the month-long celebration, two companies in the Trip Reduction Program (TRP), Swift Transportation and Bank of America, hosted a transportation expo and promoted alternative modes. Vanpool demonstrations The events on Feb. 16 and 17 were well-attended and helpful to current and potential TRP participants. Valley Metro s Business Services team was there to demonstrate the ease of registering and using ShareTheRide, the online commute tracking and carpool matching system, as well as vanpool and bus experts to discuss programs and route planning. Bus demonstrations Valley Metro Business Services consultations Contact your Business Services representative for ideas on how you can execute a transportation event and boost awareness of trip reduction at your company. Raffle prizes for registering Special thanks to Don Diggins, Transportation Coordinator at Swift Transportation, Sheila Henson, Transportation Coordinator at Bank of America, and Fry s Food Stores for donating refreshments.
April is Valley Bike Month Spring weather in the Valley makes it the ideal time to get out and ride! Enjoy all the benefits of biking health, environmental, and money-saving. Whether you get out and ride with family and friends on the weekend or bike to work, now is the time to give it a try! Bring your family and friends to any of the fun rides, bike safety expos and events below. Go to ValleyMetro.org for more details. Events Schedule 3/27: Glendale Family Bike Ride & Green Festival, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.* 4/3: REI Used Bike Drive, 9 a.m. 4 p.m. 4/10: Peoria Pioneer Days Family Bike Ride, 9 a.m. 11 a.m. 4/11: Scottsdale Cycle the Arts Bike Ride, 8:30 a.m. 4/17: City of Chandler Family Bike Ride, 9 a.m. noon* 4/17: Avondale Eco Avenues Event, 9 a.m. 1 p.m.* 4/18: Bike2BBQ at Papago Park, 11 a.m. 7 p.m. 4/22: Valley Bike to Work & School Day 4/22: Phoenix Children s Hospital Bike Safety Day, 11 a.m. 1 p.m.* 4/24: Peoria Re-Cycle the River, 8 a.m. 11 a.m. 4/24: Mesa Bike4Life Ride, 8:30 a.m. noon* 4/25: Valley Metro Great Bike Chase, 9 a.m. 4 p.m.* 5/1: Arizona Bicycle Club Desert Classic, 6 a.m. Bike to Work & School Day 4/22: Tempe Bike to Work & School Day 6:30 am 8 am Six locations will be offering free breakfast to bike commuters:. Berning s Fine Jewelry. Whole Foods Market. Transportation Center. IKEA. REI. Back East Bagels 4/22: Glendale Bike to Work & School Day 4/22: Phoenix/Maricopa County Bike to Work Day 7 am 8:30 a.m. 4/22: Mesa Bike to Work Day 5:30 am 7:30 am 4/22: Scottsdale Bike to Work Day 7 am 8 am 4/26: Town of Gilbert Bike to Work Day 8 am 9 am Various Days in April: Gilbert Bike to School Celebration *Event includes bike safety expos and Radio Disney.
The Great Bike Chase Register online at ValleyMetro.org April 25, 2010. Bike Ride. Bike Safety Rodeo. AZ Diamondbacks Game. Radio Disney Valley Metro s Great Bike Chase 2010 April 25 Take friends and family on a 4-mile fun ride through downtown Phoenix to see the Arizona Diamondbacks play at Chase Field featuring pre-ride activities at the park, a Bike Safety Rodeo, bike-on-bus demonstrations, entertainment by Radio Disney and secure bicycle parking at the Jefferson Street garage. Game: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Philadelphia Phillies Cost: Ride Only: $10 Ride + Game ticket (upper level-infield reserve): $16 Ride + Game ticket (lower level-left field bleacher): $20 (Event Day) Ride + Game ticket (best available): $30 Margaret T. Hance Park 1134 N. Central Ave. Phoenix Ways to Be BRIGHT Be bright day and night. Look left, right, left. Obey traffic signs and laws. Helmet your head. Ride on the right. Eat right for more fuel. Stay hydrated. Bike it - don t drive it. Find more bright tips, visit ValleyMetro.org or call 602.262.RIDE(7433). (enter via Culver St., south of McDowell, from 3rd, 5th or 7th Avenue) The Great Bike Chase is funded by Be BRIGHT, a Valley Metro bike and pedestrian safety campaign.
New Stop Added to Route 660 in Sun City West Park-and-Ride Park-and-Ride lot expansion at 40th Street and Pecos Road Phoenix will expand its park-and-ride lot at 40th Street and Pecos Road in the Ahwatukee Foothills by 353 spaces this year, using $3 million in federal stimulus funds. The lot, built in 2003, is the most heavily used in Phoenix. Commuters from Ahwatukee, Chandler, Gilbert and elsewhere in the Southeast Valley park there before hopping on buses to get to jobs or events in downtown Phoenix. On many days, cars are parked along curbs because the drivers were unable to find empty spots before their buses took off. The additional spaces will be on city-owned land west of the lot. Construction, which began in January 2010, was able to sustain and/or create a total of 120 jobs, and will be complete by year end. Effective Monday, March 8, the rural connector bus route that travels between Wickenburg, Wittmann, Surprise and Glendale on weekdays and Saturdays will now go to the Sun City West Foundation at 14465 R.H. Johnson Blvd. The bus stop is being added to provide transportation for Sun City West residents who want to go to the Arrowhead Towne Center for shopping and social activities. The service is also convenient for passengers making local trips between Grand Avenue and Bell Road. ROUTE 685 Fifth Year Anniversary If you have employees living in or your company is located in the northwest Valley, Route 660 may be a viable commute option. Check route stops and schedules at ValleyMetro.org. Route 660 also provides flexible stops which allows passengers to choose their own pick-up and drop-off location up to three-quarters mile from the regular route. The flexible service requires a one-day advance notice. Call 800.713.3809 to make a reservation. For more information about Route 660 or any Valley Metro transit service, go to ValleyMetro.org or call 602.253.5000. March 2010 marked the five-year anniversary of Route 685 Ajo/ Gila Bend! Route 685 enables greater job opportunity for travelers by connecting Ajo, Gila Bend, Buckeye, Avondale and Phoenix, in addition to helping to reduce air pollution. A week-long celebration, March 22-26, featured celebrations at stops along the route, along with entertainment, giveaways and free rides all week. For route and schedule information, visit ValleyMetro.org.
Service Changes New Mesa Bus Service Coming this Summer On July 26, two new bus routes will begin service in Mesa. Mesa Community College, Superstition Springs Mall, Mesa Gateway Airport and ASU Polytechnic will all be connected by a new bus route operating on Power Road. Route 184 will provide 7 day a week service along Mesa s Power Road Knowledge Corridor. In addition, Arizona Avenue/Country Club LINK service will connect Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa. This new LINK service will connect the Tumbleweed Park-and-Ride in Chandler and the Sycamore Transit Center in Mesa. The new route will give passengers in this area a direct connection to METRO light rail. For the latest transit service additions and changes visit ValleyMetro.org often. FYI: Mobile Air Monitoring Program For over 50 years, Maricopa County has been monitoring the air quality throughout this region using a network of fixed air monitoring sites. In November 2006, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved the next phase in the County s monitoring network; a mobile air monitoring program. This top-of-theline equipment is used to perform case studies, compliant investigations and stack testing. The Mobile Air Monitoring Program includes a trailer that has continuous air pollutant monitors measuring criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter [PM-10 and PM-2.5], carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and lead. Visit CleanAirMakeMore.org for more information.
Training Events Calendar NEW TO THE TRIP REDUCTION PROGRAM? Valley Metro offers a free interactive workshop for new Transportation Coordinators (TCs). The classes are designed to assist with key components of the Trip Reduction Program at worksites, and get new TCs started with support tools. Attendees receive a comprehensive training manual and a copy of their current TRP Plan. To register, or if you have questions regarding Introduction to TRP, please call Valley Metro at 602.262.7433. Location: Valley Metro 7th Floor Conference Room 302 N. 1st Ave., Suite 700 Phoenix, AZ 85003 Upcoming Classes: Times: 9:00am 11:00 am Wednesday, April 14 Wednesday, May 12 ValleyMetro.org 602.262.RIDE (7433) TTY: 602.261.8208 The Blue Sky View newsletter is a publication of Valley Metro and is available online at ValleyMetro.org. UPCOMING TCA MEETINGS: If you can t make a face-to-face TCA meeting, consider joining one of our monthly webinars. Each covers the same material as face-to-face meetings, so please feel free to register and join us remotely! Go to ValleyMetro.org for a complete schedule. March SE Valley 3/24 Central City 3/25 May SW Valley 5/5 NE Valley 5/11 NW Valley 5/19 S Central 5/20 SE Valley 5/26 Central City 5/27 Please note: There are no face-to-face meetings in April, July, August, November or December. MEETING DAYS & LOCATIONS SW Valley 8:30 am Swift Transportation 2200 S. 75th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85043 Lake Powell Training Room NE Valley 8:30 am Town of Paradise Valley 6433 E. Lincoln Drive Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 Police training room NW Valley 8:30 am Glendale City Council Chambers 5850 W. Glendale Avenue Glendale, AZ 85301 S Central 8:30 am East Valley Bus Operations & Maintenance Facility 2050 W Rio Salado Parkway Tempe, AZ 85281 SE Valley 9:00 am City of Mesa Transportation Department 300 E. Sixth Street Mesa, AZ 85201 Central City 8:30 am Phoenix Art Museum Wolfswinkel Education Center 1625 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004 RDS1199 indd/gms/3.010