Light Rail Blogger was recenly nominated for a Stylos Award. The annual award ceremony recognizes the best of the Hispanic community while showcasing Phoenix’s talent in sports, entrepeneurship, politics, community, fashion and music. LRB, which celebrates its two year anniversary this month, was nominated in the category of journalism and media. The award ceremony was held last week at the Phoenix Art Museum (Central Ave and McDowell Road METRO).

(Media alert from our sister agency Valley Metro RPTA)

Local bands play live to commuters

PHOENIX (Nov. 4, 2010) — Six local bands have written and recorded 11 original songs about how to use public transportation as part of a new community education effort to help Valley residents try environmentally friendly modes of travel.

“Surveys and research revealed there was widespread unfamiliarity about how to use public transportation across greater Phoenix, and that was a barrier to giving the system a try,” says Mario Diaz, chief marketing officer at Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority. “So we asked local bands to record – in their own unique way – the various things you need to know in order to get out of your car and use public transportation instead.”

Each original creation describes a different aspect about using the Valley Metro system, such as how to buy fare, passenger courtesy, safety near train tracks and buses, or how one fare pass can be used on both bus and light rail. The 11 topics were selected based on common passenger questions at Valley Metro’s customer service line and from the top questions city transit departments receive. Participating local bands are: Black Carl, Captain Squeegee, Elvis Before Noon, Mills End, Peachcake, and What Laura Says.

Songs and videos will be available online at www.ValleyMetro.org/Notesbeginning on Monday, Nov. 8.

I love the videos! First off, I love the School House Rock feel of the videos and I think it’s a great way to promote using public transportation in the Valley of the Sun. What do you think?

Looks like locals singing about public transportation is all the rage these days. Check out my friend Yuri Artibise and his post about musicians who love light rail.

Related articles

• Local Bands Record Songs About Using Valley’s Public Transit System (prnewswire.com)
• Light Rail Riders Facing Surveys and Inspections (raillife.com)
• METRO Hours of Operation (lightrailblogger.com)

Steve Banta, METRO CEO (photo: METRO), originally uploaded by Light.Rail.Blogger.

The spokesperson for METRO provided the editorial piece below, with permission to publish on LightRailBlogger.com.

Creating a Total Transit Network
Stephen R. Banta, METRO CEO

Sustainability and livability are common terms these days and used in everyday dialogue. This is encouraging for the benefit it will bring, not only to the public transit rider, but our region and future generations.

In my profession of public transportation, sustainability and livability have taken on a new focus. A well-executed public transportation system contributes to how people choose to live, work and play. The 20-mile METRO light rail line is a great example. People are choosing light rail as a means of transportation in greater numbers than projected. Additionally, each month this year has seen higher ridership than the same month last year. Businesses are popping up along the line and residents are making choices for where they live based on accessibility to transit.

Light rail and bus service are just the start of what our region needs to keep pace with growth. It is critical to keep building an effective transit system that provides residents with the options to leave their car behind on occasion or all week. I term this effective system as the “total transit network.” The total transit network is many modes working in concert to support regional growth and provide mobility choices.

I’ve seen and managed total transit networks in my past experiences with some of the largest public transit agencies in the U.S. It is the integration and coordination of local and express bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, streetcar, commuter rail and an overlay of a robust paratransit system that provides accessibility to all. It is an interconnected system that serves the region’s urban core and also provides options to those that live outside the core. It is what we need to support our growing population and enhance our economic viability. And even in this economy, we have to continue building in smaller segments with the total transit network in mind.

The Regional Transportation Plan contains the next steps in the total transit network with the building of 37 additional miles of high-capacity transit. The Central Mesa and Tempe South extensions are on the immediate horizon.

Central Mesa has completed planning to determine that it will be light rail on Main Street to Mesa Drive by 2016. The Federal Transit Administration has approved, with high marks, the project’s entrance into design; construction is scheduled to begin in 2013.

The Tempe South project is nearing a recommendation on the transit option to move forward into design, construction and ultimately operation in 2016. A modern streetcar in a Mill-Ash Avenue loop terminating at Southern Avenue is the highest-performing alternative in this study. If approved, this would be the region’s first introduction to streetcar.

Streetcar has a unique ability of strengthening a downtown core, providing greater neighborhood connectivity and stimulating higher-density, urban development. I’ve seen its success as a public transit option and economic development generator during my time with TriMet, the regional transit agency in Portland, OR. Streetcar working in conjunction with other modes is a next step in developing the total transit network.

The value of streetcar, or any new mode, is what it brings to the regional transit network and the livability of our communities. With each new corridor, we are taking a step towards building a total transit network that enhances regional mobility, supports and creates future growth and, most importantly, makes transit trips easier and more convenient for you, the customer.

For more information on METRO’s extension plan, please visit www.metrolightrail.org. The Regional Transportation Plan is also available online at www.azmag.gov.

Friday 4:40 a.m. (1st full trip) –  2 a.m. (last full trip, arriving at opposite ends of line at 3 a.m. Saturday)

Weekday Frequency Trains arrive every 12 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; all other hours, every 20 minutes.

Saturday 5 a.m. (1st full trip starting at the end-of-line stations) –  2 a.m. (last full trip  arriving at the opposite end of the line at 3 a.m. Sunday)

Sunday 5 a.m. (1st full trip starting at the end-of-line stations) –  11 p.m. (last full trip  arriving at the opposite end of the line at midnight)

Frequency Trains arrive every 15 minutes Saturdays between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. All other hours, and on Sundays and holidays, trains arrive every 20 minutes.

METRO trains may operate more frequently during special events to accommodate large crowds. METRO and Valley Metro share the same holidays.  Click here for a list of transit holidays.

Saturday, October 30th

Ben’s 20th Annual Halloween Party at the Clarendon Hotel (Central at Indian School METRO Station) must be good if the shin dig is going on 20 years!

White Rabbit’s Halloween Disco at the Ghost Lounge at the Hotel San Carlos (Central at Van Buren METRO Station)

Monster Ball at the Alwun House (Ride your bike from the Central / Roosevelt METRO Station) will have costume revelry and prizes, a cabaret show, and monster art.

Sunday, October 31st   Happy Halloween!

Freaky Tiki at Hula’s Modern Tiki (Central at Camelback METRO Station) will have a costume party/fundraiser for Phoenix Children’s Hospital

The Halloween Monster Ride is a costume bike ride in North Central Phoenix starting at Gallagher’s (noon)

A SideBar Halloween (Central Ave at McDowell Rd METRO Station) means you can keep the party going until 2 a.m.

Remember that METRO will operate regular Sunday hours with the last full trip starting at 11 p.m. and returning to the yard by midnight (basically, you’re taking chances if you wait until 11:30 p.m. to catch the train). See also how to ride the light rail or bus in Phoenix and this light rail map.