ASU key to revitalizing Downtown
Phoenix
LightRailToday.com
Despite the economic slowdown,
construction at the ASU campus in Downtown Phoenix has been ongoing. Thanks to
a $233 million bond approved by voters in 2006, Downtown Phoenix is being infused
with new academic life. Beginning this week, thousands of students, faculty and
staff will be arriving at the newly expanded ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus. Over
6,000 students will be attending ASU Downtown Phoenix this Fall. The campus now
includes the College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation, the Walter Cronkite
School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Barrett, the Honors College, the
Phoenix Urban Research Laboratory, the School of Community Resources &
Development, the School of Public Affairs, the School of Social Work, the Schools
of Letters & Sciences and the School of Extended Education.
New academic buildings, student
housing and civic space are changing downtown’s landscape. Taylor Place, a new
student dorm with 744 beds, is opening its doors this week. The new six-story,
233,000 sq. ft. Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
building will welcome students when it opens next week. The new ASU Civic Space
Park along Central Avenue is currently under construction and is set to open
next Spring. The space will feature artist Janet Echelman’s “Sky Bloom” shade
sculpture along with trees, grass areas and seating for students and visitors.
D.L. Hughley is in Tempe this
weekend
LightRailToday.com
Comedian and actor D.L. Hughley is performing
at the Tempe Improv this weekend. Known for his starring role in the sitcom The Hughleys, D.L. was also in the hit
docu-film The Original Kings of Comedy. He will perform for three nights beginning
Friday, August 15th. Tickets cost $27 and are available online at
tempeimprov.com. Tempe Improv is located at 930 E. University Dr.
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel update
LightRailToday.com
The brand new, 1,000 room Sheraton
Phoenix Downtown Hotel is currently hiring for all positions. Due to open on
October 1st, the 31-story hotel has an employee recruitment office at the
Arizona Center, which is located at 3rd St. and Van Buren. The recruitment
office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Job postings are
listed on their website at starwoodhotels.com.
The hotel is currently accepting
reservations and has several special offers. From October 1st to December 31st,
when you stay for two consecutive nights, the third night is free. Must arrive
on Thursday, Friday or Saturday to receive this offer. There are also special
rates and packages for teachers, school administrators, government employees,
families and newlyweds. The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel is located at 340
N. 3rd St.
Frank TV star Frank Caliendo coming to Tempe Improv
LightRailToday.com
Frank Caliendo, the former MADtv cast member and current Frank TV star, will perform for four nights beginning Thursday, August 28th. Appearing recently in Dish Network’s commercials, he is well-known for impersonating President George W. Bush,
John Madden, Al Pacino and Dr. Phil. Tempe Improv is located at 930 E.
University Dr. For tickets, visit frankcaliendo.com.
2008 Arizona Restaurant Week
LightRailToday.com
Some of the Valley’s best culinary
destinations will be participating in the first annual 2008 Arizona Restaurant
Week. Sponsored by the Arizona Restaurant Association, Diageo, US Foodservice, Hensley and American Express, the
seven day event will include dozens of the Valley’s best restaurants. Diners
will have the option of ordering from the three-course prix-fixe menu for only $29
per individual or $58 per couple. This year’s event begins on Saturday,
September 20th and will end on Friday, September 26th.
Some participating restaurants
in the light rail community include 1130 The Restaurant, Cheuvront, Kincaid’s, Sam’s
Café, The Bamboo Club in Tempe and Z’Tejas in Tempe. More restaurants may be
added to the event in the coming weeks. Visit arizonarestaurantweek.com for a
list of all participating restaurants. Reservations can be made online at
opentable.com.
Cottage Living announces
Top 10
LightRailToday.com
In 2006, the Willo historic
neighborhood in Downtown Phoenix made the list on Cottage Living magazine’s Top Ten Cottage Communities. This year,
Agritopia in Gilbert is the only Arizona community to make the Top Ten. Agritopia
consists of 460 homes, narrow, tree-lined streets, a grill and coffee shop and is
built around a 15 acre urban farm. Like many new communities in the Valley,
Agritopia was built to resemble historic Phoenix neighborhoods from the 1930’s
and 40’s. Agritopia is located at the 202 Freeway and Higley Road in Gilbert. The
city of Gilbert is not a member of METRO Light Rail and there are no current
plans to extend light rail to Gilbert.
Melissa Etheridge at Dodge
Theatre 8/18
LightRailToday.com
Oscar and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter
Melissa Etheridge will be performing at Dodge Theatre Monday, August 18th at 8
p.m. Her Revival Tour kicked off in June in Clearwater, Florida with a three
hour and fifteen minute concert. Tickets start at $38.00 and can be purchased
online at livenation.com. Dodge Theatre is located in Downtown Phoenix at 400
W. Washington St.
Phoenix Art Museum offers free
admission
LightRailToday.com
Looking for something free to do on
a Tuesday evening? The Phoenix Art Museum offers free admission on Tuesdays
from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. While this does not include the special admissions
exhibits, it does include several main galleries. The Phoenix Art Museum has a
little bit of something for everyone: Modern, Contemporary, American, Latin
American, European, Asian and Fashion design. The museum is also free on First
Friday art event evenings (the first Friday of every month) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The
Phoenix Art Museum is located at 1625 N. Central Ave.
METRO Light Rail Safety
LightRailToday.com
METRO is testing the light rail trains
more frequently throughout the Valley. Once light rail opens in late December,
there will be up to 50 trains operating on a daily basis along the 20-mile route. Many residents and
visitors are unaware of light rail operating procedures and safety issues. In
an effort to help inform the public, we are listing safety tips. Please visit
valleymetro.org for more information and safety brochures.
- At intersections, never stop or park your car or bike on light rail tracks.
- Stop on red and turn left only with a green arrow.
- Never try to beat a train through the intersection.
- Light rail trains are quiet. Listen for warning bells and watch for flashing headlights on the train.
- Look both ways before crossing the tracks by car or bike.
- Never drive a car or ride a bike in the light rail guideway.
- Treat METRO high-voltage power lines with the same respect as utility company lines.
- Don’t walk on or stand near the tracks.
- Jaywalking is illegal and unsafe. Cross only at crosswalks and obey the crosswalk signals.
- Be alert when near the tracks.
- Remind your children to stop, look and listen – especially around light rail tracks.
- Teach children to cross intersections only in a crosswalk and to obey all crosswalk signs.
- Never allow children to play near the tracks and never fly kites or models near the high-voltage overhead power lines.
- When walking with children, keep them together and away from the tracks.
- Skateboarding, rollerblading and riding bicycles in the guideway or on light rail platforms is not permitted and is unsafe.
Comedian Bill Maher is coming to
town
LightRailToday.com
Bill Maher, host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, will be performing stand-up at Dodge Theatre on August 9th at 8 p.m. The comedian/political satirist/commentator/author is the former host of Comedy Central’s late-night talk show Politically Incorrect. Bill Maher is ranked #38 on Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time list. Tickets start at $38.00 and can be purchased online at LiveNation.com. Dodge Theatre is located in Downtown Phoenix at 400 W. Washington St.
Head to Downtown Phoenix hotel for a
pool party
LightRailToday.com
Hotel San Carlos, at 202 N. Central
Ave., is hosting three pool parties a week until Labor Day. The Poolside parties
begin on Friday evenings and continue Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. Live
bands, DJs and a full bar are on hand every Friday. DJs provide entertainment
at the rooftop pool on Saturdays and Sundays, plus there’s no cover charge. Revelers
must be 18 or older. Hotel San Carlos is a historic, 121 room boutique hotel in
the heart of Downtown Phoenix. Mae West, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Spencer
Tracy, Jean Harlow, Gary Cooper and Humphrey Bogart were once guests of the
hotel. Hotel San Carlos is located one block south of the Van Buren &
Central light rail station.
Mesa to celebrate arrival of light
rail
LightRailToday.com
On the morning of August 6th,
Mesa will host a commemorative light rail ride. Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, Mesa
City Council members, METRO CEO Rick Simonetta and others, will be onboard for
the first commemorative ride into Mesa. The light rail train is scheduled to
arrive at the Main St. and Sycamore station at 10 a.m. A celebration will be
held at the Sycamore Transit Center.
New ASU Downtown Phoenix dorm to
welcome first residents on August 20th
LightRailToday.com
Taylor Place, at 120 E. Taylor St.
in Downtown Phoenix, will open its first of two student housing towers on
August 20th. The 13-story dorm will provide living space for 744 students. The
second residential tower, to open in August of 2009, will house an additional
544 students. Taylor Place is a full service dorm that will feature in-hall
dining, an in-hall fitness center, in-hall UPS store and retail stores, in-hall
tutoring services, laundry facilities and lounges on each floor and a 24 hour
courtesy desk. Rooms are fully furnished and all utilities, basic cable and
high-speed internet are included in the rent. Taylor Place is located two blocks
northeast of the Van Buren and Central Ave. light rail station.
New mixed use projects going up in
Downtown Tempe
LightRailToday.com
Tempe Gateway and the Fifth &
Mill Building are both mixed use projects that are currently under construction
in Downtown Tempe. Tempe Gateway, at the northwest corner of 3rd St. and Mill
Ave., will have 235,000 sq. ft. of office space and 25,000 sq. ft. of street
level retail. The project will bridge the gap that once existed between the
Mill Avenue District and Tempe Town Lake. Tempe Gateway is adjacent to the 3rd
St. and Mill Ave. light rail station.
The Fifth and Mill Building, at the
northeast corner of Fifth St. and Mill Ave., will have street level retail and
11,000 sq. ft. of office space on the second floor. The third floor will be
residential, featuring a pool and large outdoor decks with landscaping. The
Fifth and Mill Building is two blocks south of the 3rd St. and Mill Ave. light
rail station and two blocks west of the new Tempe Transit Center and the Fifth
St. and College light rail station.
Light rail rolls through downtown
Phoenix
LightRailToday.com
July 10, 2008 - This morning marked
the first time that a Metro light rail train entered downtown Phoenix. This was
the first daylight "live wire" test of the new system in downtown. At
about 10:30 a.m., the train traveled west along Washington St. and turned north
on Central Ave., coming to a stop at the Washington and Central Station.
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Metro's CEO Rick Simonetta and Chairman Tom Simplot were
along for the historic ride. Dozens of curious onlookers, Valley Metro
employees and the local media were in attendance. Regular testing will continue
in downtown, with plans to run the trains to the Montebello and 19th Ave. light
rail station later this summer.
Phoenix's urban street railway
history goes back 121 years
LightRailToday.com
The Valley's first streetcar system
began operating in Downtown Phoenix in 1887, which was horse-powered.
Electric-powered trolleys began operating in 1893. The city of Phoenix acquired
the system in 1925 and, as a result of an approved bond issue, rebuilt the
entire system and purchased 18 new streetcars. The city decided to replace the
trolleys with buses in 1948, thus putting an end to the city's urban street railway.
60 years later, the new Metro light rail system is set to begin operating
Valleywide and will usher in a new era of streetcar transit. To see how past
generations got around town, visit the Phoenix Trolley Museum located at 1218
N. Central Ave.
