Transit Projects Named for Stimulus Dollars

Contact:
Susan Tierney
Public Information Officer
602.262.7433

Phoenix, AZ (March 19, 2009)  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is providing more than $66 million dollars for shovel-ready transit projects in the greater metropolitan Phoenix area to help create jobs and give the local economy a boost.

Today, the Valley Metro Board of Directors, which represents 14 cities and towns, as well as Maricopa County, determined how funds would be distributed and what projects they would recommend for the stimulus funds. After today’s decision, the list of projects will be forwarded to the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) for inclusion in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and be approved by the MAG Regional Council.

The criteria for determining this list is based on fulfilling the original intent of the recovery act, which is to create jobs quickly.  Projects recommended today by the Valley Metro Board of Directors are:

Mesa
Country Club/US60
Park-and-Ride construction
$9,400,000

Phoenix
Central Station Transit Center Refurbishments
$ 5,000,000

Happy Valley/I-17 Park and Ride
$ 5,500,000

Pecos/40th St Park and Ride Expansion
$ 3,000,000

Preventive Maintenance
$ 5,400,000

Intelligent Transportation System Enhancement: Regional Transit Stop Data Overhaul
$ 300,000

Bus Stop Improvements
$ 4,321,217

LRT Park and Ride Shade Canopies
$ 5,000,000

Bus access crossover lane (Bell Rd/SR-51)
$ 640,070

Regional Public Transportation Authority
Arizona Avenue/Country Club
Bus Rapid Transit capital
$15,000,000

Scottsdale
Scottsdale/Loop 101
Park-and-Ride construction
$5,000,000

Tempe
East Valley Operations and Maintenance Facility
Expansion/Upgrade $6,500,000

Phoenix
Bell Rd/SR-51
Bus access crossover
$640,070

Avondale
Avondale Blvd/I-10
Park and Ride site selection
$250,000

Goodyear
I-10/Litchfield Rd
Park and Ride construction
$1,083,602

Valley Metro/RPTA provides eco-friendly public transit options to residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County, including a clean-fuel bus fleet, low-emissions light rail,  a bio-diesel Dial-a-Ride fleet, online carpool matching and bus trip mapping, and bicycle and telework assistance. Funding is provided by local, state and federal revenues; and administered by a board of 15 governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit system. www.ValleyMetro.org.

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