Mesa driving its future with light rail
The catchy line of the Fleetwood Mac song still rings true: “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.”
That forward-thinking mentality motivates us every day.
On Aug. 22, Mesa enjoyed one of its most momentous days by celebrating the 3.1-mile Central Mesa light rail extension which opened on Main Street and now better connects downtown Mesa with Tempe and Phoenix. The project – on budget and months ahead of schedule – will add thousands of riders and open up an array of redevelopment opportunities.
Mesa light rail expansion debuts to thousands of riders
Mesa and Valley Metro are now working on the next piece of the East Valley’s rail corridor.
Work begins on next phase
A new, two-mile extension to Gilbert Road brings another multi-modal milestone as rail will stretch into Mesa’s residential neighborhoods. Construction will start in fall 2016 and conclude in 2018. And, shortly, “Future Light Rail Route” signs will pop up along this corridor.
The East Valley has embraced the growth of light rail, its enhanced mobility for residents and an economic development revival. The three-mile Central Mesa extension has already generated more than $90 million in private investment since the project broke ground in the summer of 2012. New shops and coffee houses are opening on Main Street. The historic neighborhoods are becoming home to young families renovating 100-year old houses, and seniors choosing an urban lifestyle in one of the new downtown residential units. These residents use light rail to get to work, entertainment and shopping.
Valley Metro’s safe, reliable and efficient regional transit system promotes Mesa’s use of 120 acres of city-owned land in downtown to accelerate its transformation. The parcels vary in size and can be the future locale of award-winning restaurants, local retail and offices.
None of this could happen without the partnership between Valley Metro and Mesa. The game-changing results are helping Mesa attract millennials who want to live, work and play near light rail. Connectivity is key. Another benefit to the new extension is the proximity to the U.S. 60 and Loop 202 Red Mountain, via Gilbert Road, a major arterial.
The 23-mile light rail corridor that connects Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix continues to showcase the transformative power of transit-oriented development. These redevelopment projects are drawing national attention and have, thus far, infused $8.2 billion in economic activity. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx recently visited Phoenix to announce that two non-profits – LISC Phoenix and Raza Development Fund – are investing another $30 million (raising the total amount to $50 million) to a privately-financed fund for projects along Valley Metro Rail.
Chandler next?
We envision a time in the near future when the total transit network reaches other areas across the Valley. There is a study underway to connect Mesa and Chandler. It will examine the feasibility of a high-capacity transit route from the Sycamore Transit Center via Dobson Road, Southern Avenue and Arizona Avenue to downtown Chandler.
If that extension is possible, a new world will open up for the Fiesta District and our neighbors in Chandler. Once again, this resurgence is being fueled by private sector interest in building near effective public transportation and our drive to improve regional competitiveness and quality of life for our residents and riders.
The six miles of light rail in Mesa, amplified by the other 60 miles developing across the region, are reshaping and redefining our economic and transportation future before our very eyes. We are focused on tomorrow … because jobs, opportunities and connectivity drive our future.
John Giles is the mayor of Mesa. Steve Banta is the CEO of Valley Metro.