Rail Life Pic Of The Week – Flying High at the Mill is a post from: Rail Life

For years, we’ve heard stories of what might be happening to the old flour mill in Tempe. In a fairly recent announcement, the city of Tempe said they have decided to temporarily turn it into an events venue. Thanks to some people at the city and from generous private donations, there will be new landscaping, a portable stage, lighting and more coming to the historic site.

I shot this pic a few months ago and thought it was a good fit to go along with the excitement some of the Tempe business community has expressed over the sprucing up of the old mill. The guy on the bike appears to be jumping for joy!

Remember, Rail Life has a Phoenix Light Rail Group on Flickr. Basically, we want to share some of our pictures from the community and allow people to add their pics (or videos), as well. These can be light rail related, but we also want pics or videos of your favorite spot, restaurant, sports team, community, event etc.

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Ride Light Rail – Save Cash With METRO Max is a post from: Rail Life

The new METRO Max Rewards program allows light rail riders to receive special discounts and promotions from business owners along the line. The new program starts this month, and according to METRO, transit riders will enjoy “exclusive money-saving discounts, fun contests and giveaways and special event previews from the amazing array of businesses along our line.”  How cool is that, right?

To get the scoop on METRO Max discounts, you can sign up for email alerts, join METRO on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

Smart business owners along the line know the light rail rider  is a great target market. They know it is important to tell people they are close to a light rail station, they know that some months there are well over a million boardings on the light rail, and they understand that places taking advantage of this service just might see some increased foot traffic.

So, if you are a business owner or if you know a business owner along the line, make sure your favorite place is aware of the METRO Max program. To participate, business owners should contact METRO or download the METRO Max Participation Packet.

For us light rail riders, participation simply means printing out the METRO Max offer, taking it to the participating business along with our valid transit pass, and saving some cash. Sounds good to me…

Remember, the Metro Max discounts will change from week to week, so be sure to follow along. There “might” be a mention or two here on the blog and on the Rail Life Twitter page. Thanks for following along and thanks for “Rockin’ the Rail Life!”

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The Business of Light Rail – A PIRG Study is a post from: Rail Life

Today, the Arizona PIRG released a comprehensive study of economic and other benefits that light rail has provided local businesses along the 20 mile light rail line in Arizona. The study, called The Business of Light Rail shows a very interesting insight to development and ridership along the Phoenix light rail line. 14 business owners along the route were interviewed about their opinion of light rail since the opening of the 20 mile stretch in December of 2008. Many interesting and common themes came up in discussing light rail with nearby business owners ranging from:

Increased foot traffic: Owners close to stations often see people exit the trains and head to their establishment. Increased weekend and evening traffic has been a pleasant surprise.

Businesses shaping their location decisions because of light rail: One business owner participating in the study has seen a 30% increase in revenue since light rail has been running. Mentions of increased foot traffic are a common theme of owners, as well.

Light rail’s value as transportation to special events: We have seen it here on Rail life many, many times. Events along the line tend to increase ridership significantly. Sports, the arts, music festivals etc are huge draws. One business owner was quoted as saying, “The light rail enables more people to attend while lessening the hassle and difficulty of parking.”

Increased visibility for businesses near the light rail: The high ridership numbers appear to be a real benefit to anyone along the line. Increased awareness brings new customers. Owners with a business near a station certainly see a benefit to marketing to these transit riders.

Light rail’s role in community redevelopment: More than one owner cited redevelopment of their area as another benefit of light rail in their area. Closing down “seedy motels” and chasing off “riff-raff” would probably make business owners in any part of town happy with a project.

Light rail gives a mobility option to people who cannot drive: The light rail has some very convenient design features for people with disabilities and has been popular with people who ride bicycles. From the handicapped to the elderly to those that can not afford their own transportation to people choosing to make a difference in air quality and many other demographics, the light rail is proving to be a good way to travel around town.

Many people that were once against the initial thought of having light rail run through their neighborhood are now supporters of the system, it’s convenience, economic development and it community enhancements. Of the business owners interviewed for the PIRG study, some interesting findings were uncovered:

Mulqueen Sewing: located near the end of the line in Mesa, most people probably wouldn’t think a sewing company would see much of an impact from public transportation. The owner of the store says there have been people come from the other end of the line to visit his store. See the report for more interesting info from them.

unPhogettable: Located near the Sycamore and Main station in Mesa, they have seen the area improve and have seen a benefit from new and repeat customers because of their proximity to the line.

Bob’s Tires: As an initial skeptic of light rail, they have seen increased business because of their proximity to light rail. Having so many ASU students near by and so many people see their shop daily, there is an increased awareness that turns into customers. Having a park and ride lot near by is a good fit for their business, as well.

India Plaza: This “destination plaza” has enjoyed success from their decision to locate near the light rail. The India Plaza, home of The Dhaba and other Indian establishments are glad to see so many ‘non-Indian” customers coming via the light rail.

Monti’s La Casa Vieja: Michael Monti made some very interesting points in his interview with PIRG. Discussing a more mobile society, increased synergy between downtown Phoenix and Tempe, increased hotel occupancy near the light rail line and even his own new term of “geriatric tourism.” Read the PIRG report for full details.

Brooklyn NYC Pizza: Showing that a location, location, location near the 3rd Street and Washington station, Brooklyn NYC Pizza has seen significant traffic from light rail riders heading to Chase Field, US Airways Center, the Phoenix Convention Center and nearby hotels.

George and Dragon: Keith Jackson, general manager of the George and Dragon near the Central and Indian School light rail station says light rail has helped to clean up the area and to bring new patrons to the bar. As someone formerly against light rail, Keith is now a supporter and has seen, first hand, some of the many benefits it can bring to a city.

Read about the above mentioned businesses and about the others mentioned in the PIRG Light Rail Business Report as well as finding more information about their conclusions. We all know the success of the light rail system here in Phoenix has been greater than most anticipated. With service cuts coming, it will be very interesting to watch the numbers, sentiment and budget issues get hashed around some more. Stick around, we are in for a fun ride…

Big thanks to Jesse from PIRG for the Rail Life mention in the report! :-)

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Station Domination – It’s Here is a post from: Rail Life

The topic of advertising on the light rail and the lack thereof, has been discussed since before the line ever opened. Many people remember the initial discussions of leaving the trains and stations free from all advertising. In early 2009, we saw the first “test run” of light rail cars being wrapped for the NBA All Star game held in Phoenix.

Funny how a little thing called a budget can change the tune of an initial policy. By February, METRO announced that they had revised their policy, just a bit. Grand Canyon University was the first to purchase a light rail wrap when advertising began on the light rail.

“The METRO Board of Directors amended the agency advertising policy to permit sales of vehicle wraps, vehicle floor decals, station wraps and station display case advertising in July 2009.  METRO finalized an agreement with CBS Outdoor to sell the advertising inventory in October.”

Taking the light rail wrap a little further are the people at One Lexington. With a package that goes beyond a light rail wrap, One Lexington worked with the Martz Agency to negotiate a more complete light rail advertising package. According to one of their associates, “One Lexington, is the first to do a station domination with METRO light rail.  The Washington and Central station has 4 ads from One Lexington, including a mesh banner behind the seating, 2 logoed columns on either side of the seats and 3 floor graphics on the station, which means we completely own on seating section of the station with advertising.”

Specifics of the ad campaign were: Train Wrap, Station Domination, (2) Station Kiosks, (2) Bulletin Boards (14×48), and (3) Bus Shelters.

According to METRO, they currently have 4 fully wrapped trains and can wrap 10 of their 50 vehicles.

It sounds like One Lexington feels that advertising on the light rail is “just the ticket” they needed to reach light rail riders.

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Tempe Chamber Hosting FREE Business Solutions Clinic is a post from: Rail Life

The Tempe Chamber of Commerce is offering a FREE Business Solutions Clinic for all Chamber members. Through its Business Resource Advantage Committee, the Tempe Chamber will organize and host this FREE event which provides instruction on six different areas of business.  The event will be held at the Tempe Chamber offices on Feb. 25 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m and business owners can book a 30-minute appointment to meet with an expert and ask questions pertaining to that business topic. The Tempe Chamber of Commerce is located at 909 East Apache Blvd.

As a member of the Business Resource Advantage Committee, I can tell you that this will be a great way for business owners to get answers from some top notch professionals willing to share their knowledge with fellow members of the Tempe Chamber. Do yourself and your business a favor and get some FREE advice!

For more detailed information, please see the post about the Business Solutions Clinic at The Social Latte.

Following is information about the event directly from the Chamber:

Tempe Chamber Member,

Is your company trying to do more with less? Are you stretching your budget while trying to maintain the level of customer service and expertise you pride yourself on?

If so, I bet you might jump at the chance to secure $700 worth of free counseling sessions with lawyers, accountants, marketing gurus, tax specialists and other industry experts. You’re in luck. The Tempe Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer our members (that’s you!) this very opportunity.

On Thursday, Feb. 25, from 1-5 p.m. we are hosting a Business Solutions Clinic to provide one-on-one, complimentary, confidential business counseling sessions to help you benefit from the advice of experts.

This panel of mentors comprises Tempe Chamber members who will provide individual sessions for pre-registered participants. Each session will take place between you and the mentor behind closed doors. No sales pitches, no hassles – nothing but honest advice and tips on the subjects of your choice.

The event is organized through the Tempe Chamber’s Business Resource Advantage Committee. Sessions are offered in half-hour increments and are presented by:

Taxes / Accounting – Laura Opstad:

Marketing / PR - Diane Wallace:

Sales – Anita Grantham:

Legal - Joan Jakel-Smith:

HR / Workers’ Comp. & Insurance - Neil Chitel:

Finance & Banking – Peter Eberle:

In addition, a SCORE representative will be onsite to answer general questions for all attendees. Refreshments will be provided by Marketside at Rural and Elliot.

Participants must be members of the Tempe Chamber. All sessions must be reserved in advance and walk-in guests cannot be accommodated.

While we still have some slots remaining, they are filling up fast. Slots are booked based on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, please contact Sachiyo Ragsdale at sachiyo@tempechamber.org or (480) 736-4285. For full details on our presenters, visit their LinkedIn accounts above or go to http://bit.ly/cHL252.

** Update:  Some things to consider**

HR/Payroll/Workers Comp

1) Are your employees classified correctly, for Workers Comp and Exempt / Non-Exempt?

2) Do you Qualify for a Workers Comp Emod – What is an Emod and how does it affect my policy rates?

3) Group Healthcare and how can I keep it without making me broke!

4) Ways to keep your employees happy in these hard times, suggestions on how to cut back without layoffs!

5) I have no employees they are all 1099; Really? Learn the Factor 20 test the IRS uses, could save your company!

Accounting

1) What is the difference between expensing and capitalizing costs?

2) Will your salary as a corporate officer pass an audit?

3) What documentation does IRS require?

4) What are the problems with having a shareholder loan with your corporation?

5) Are you confident your books/tax returns are accurate?

Advertising begins on Phoenix Light Rail is a post from: Rail Life

We have thought advertising should in place for a long time. The “trial” light rail wraps for the NBA All Star Game were well done and people seemed to like them. Given all of the talk about budget cuts, this press release from Metro makes a lot of sense…

METRO is open for advertising with first train wrap

PHOENIX — METRO light rail and advertising program administrator, CBS Outdoor, have earned their first sale with a train wrap by Grand Canyon University.  The wrapped vehicle will makes its launch as early as Sunday, Feb. 14 and will be out in service for the next six months.

The METRO Board of Directors amended the agency advertising policy to permit sales of vehicle wraps, vehicle floor decals, station wraps and station display case advertising in July 2009.  METRO finalized an agreement with CBS Outdoor to sell the advertising inventory in October.

Progress photos of the train wrap installation will be available this afternoon on METRO’s Facebook page. 

To advertise with METRO, contact Brent Wood or Phil Calihan at CBS Outdoor at (602) 246-9569 or via email at brent.wood@cbsoutdoor.com or phil.calihan@cbsoutdoor.com.  More information on the METRO advertising program can be found online at www.metrolightrail.org/advertising.

About METRO 

METRO is responsible for the development and operation of the region’s high-capacity transit system.  The first 20-mile light rail line opened Dec. 27, 2008 and served 11.3 million riders in 2009.  Ridership exceeds projections by 34 percent on weekdays and fairs as well or better on Saturdays and Sundays.  METRO will continue to refine its 20-mile operation, while also planning for 37 miles of future extensions.

Great Fundraiser Planned at Downtown Phoenix Public Market is a post from: Rail Life

In our community, there are many examples of people doing some exciting, cool and inspirational things to help make a difference. Anyone that knows our friend Cindy Gentry at the Downtown Phoenix Market knows she has had a huge impact downtown.

Through Cindy, I had a chance to meet Natalie and learn more about the “local food scene” that is beginning to flourish at the Market. As a local “foodie,” Natalie has been a tremendous asset to Cindy at the market. Natalie was recently accepted as 1 of only 50 students to the Masters in Food Culture and Communications program at Slow Food’s University of Gastronomic Sciences in Parma, Italy! Talk about foodie heaven! This great accomplishment is bitter sweet for the Market as they will be losing Natalie, but they take comfort in knowing that her talents have taken her to a very prestigious academy.

To help with Natalie’s expenses and to celebrate her accomplishment, please join us for a fundraiser at the Phoenix Public Market on Sunday February 21^st from 5-8pm inside the Urban Grocery and Wine Bar located at 14 E. Pierce Street in Phoenix. The event will feature downtown Phoenix favorites such as PastaBar, The Breadfruit, and the Market’s own Chef Elizabeth using valley producers Maya’s Farm, Seacat Gardens, Double Check Ranch, and The Meat Shop. Arizona winemakers including Dos Cabezas, Pillsbury Wines, and Arizona Stronghold will be on hand sampling right along to the live music.

For details on Natalie’s Fundraiser at the Phoenix Public Market or to purchase tickets for this coolest of cool events go to:

http://fundraiserfornatalie.eventbrite.com/

As part of this very fun and exciting day, there will be a live broadcast from Locals Only Phoenix which happens to be another very cool addition to the scene downtown.

Where: Downtown Phoenix Public Market 14 E Pierce Street, Phoenix.

When: Sunday, February 21st from 5-8 pm.

So, come on out and help Natalie get to Parma while having some fun, enjoying some great local food, wine and music. This is sure to be a day where we will be “Rockin’ the Rail life!”

Fat Tuesday on Mill Rockin the Mardi Gras is a post from: Rail Life

Fat Tuesday on Mill Avenue in Tempe has been around for 20 years! Why? Because they do things right. I’m pretty sure that our friends at Monti’s, are the only place along the Mill Avenue District that have been around longer.

Yesterday, I met with my friend Chad who owns and manages Fat Tuesday in Tempe and talked about a bunch of the cool things they are doing to celebrate Mardi Gras on Mill Avenue. Chad is celebrating their 20 year anniversary BIG time! In fact, the celebrations have already started with a ramped up menu featuring some GREAT food ( trust me, it’s good, you need to check it out ) and by throwing the biggest Mardi Gras party Tempe has ever seen. The Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras promotion started last Saturday and runs for 18 days with their blow out on Fat Tuesday on the 16th. Yes, mark your calendar for Fat Tuesday on February 16th.

Each day leading up to Fat Tuesday has something different. Today, Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman will be on hand to give the “official proclamation of Mardi Gras” at 4:30pm.

Sunday, they are throwing a HUGE New Orleans Saints Super Bowl Party. If you are looking for a place to watch the big game, you probably can’t go wrong here!

Saturday the 13th is a “frat boy” crawfish eating contest where the winners get a $500.00 bar tab. Oh, my… I can’t wait to see that one. I wonder if they will let an “old man” enter?

Another “can’t miss” event will be their suitcase party where one lucky couple will win a trip to New Orleans to party it up on Bourbon Street! I guess the only down side to that will be the fact that you will miss the madness on Mill.

It all leads us up to Tuesday the 16th for the big Mardi Gras celebration on Fat Tuesday on Mill Avenue. As you know, light rail is probably your easiest way to join in on the fun. If you don’t live close, just leave your car at one of the free Park and Ride lots and take the light rail to the 3rd Street and Mill Avenue station. From there, it is a short walk south to Fat Tuesday at 680 S Mill Avenue. Check out this video of Chad giving us the scoop…

Here is a recent press release sent out by our friends at the City of Tempe. It has a few more details…

Fat Tuesday celebrates 20 years on Mill with Carnival music, food, and free trips

Fat Tuesday celebrates 20 years on Mill Avenue this year, making it older than any drinking establishment on Mill, other than Monti’s, which is classified as a restaurant.

“I believe in Mill Avenue, said Chad Wilford, an owner and general manager of Fat Tuesday. “No other city in Arizona offers what Mill Avenue has.”

Beyond his involvement with Fat Tuesday, Wilford leads the Mill Avenue Coalition, a group of businesses that have joined hands to make Downtown Tempe better. “I grew up in Tempe, I went to school in Tempe and have lived in Tempe. I have a deep rooted love for the city,” he said.

This year, as part of the anniversary, Fat Tuesday is celebrating not just one day of Mardi Gras but all the days of the season of Carnival. Food is a big part of Cajun celebration.

Fat Tuesday once had a comprehensive menu, but as times changed, the menu was greatly reduced. According to Wilford, many of the dishes being returned to the restaurant are the same recipes used 20 years ago.

“I have rolled out a menu that pays tribute to the city in which we were founded,” he said.

The Fat Tuesday parties are as flashy as the city best known for their celebration. On Friday, Fat Tuesday begins its Carnival celebration with a proclamation from Mayor Hugh Hallman. There’s a crawfish boil every Friday and Saturday through Feb. 16. On Feb. 13, there’s a crawfish eating contest between ASU Fraternities vying for a $500 gift card. On Valentine’s Day, there’s a Suitcase Party, where two people will win an immediate trip for two to New Orleans that includes spot on Bourbon Street balcony to watch the celebration unfold. Bring your packed suitcase – you leave right after the drawing for the airport. And for those still in town on Fat Tuesday, the bar will have a namesake celebration starting at 11 a.m. with zydeco music, crawfish, music and beads.

Fat Tuesday is located on Mill Avenue and Sixth Street. Parking is available throughout the downtown. Best light rail station is Mill Avenue at Third Street.

More details?

Fat Tuesday visit www.mardigrastempe.com

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Fidelity National Title looks at current real estate market is a post from: Rail Life

In Tempe, the Hayden Ferry Lakeside buildings have to be considered one of the coolest places around. I am fortunate to spend quite a bit of time visiting Fidelity National Title’s corporate offices located on the 11th floor of this amazing facility with top notch office space and views to die for. The Hayden Ferry location on Rio Salado just North of the light rail station at Third Street and Mill is easy to get to if I am driving or taking the train. For me, that’s another win. :-)

A recent article in DSnews titled, Arizona Real Estate Market Shows Signs of Recovery, features my friend Steve de Laveaga from Fidelity National Title and Michael Orr of The Cromford Report discussing market trends and conditions. I always love to see national news focusing on local markets rather than trying to paint one broad picture of the entire real estate industry. Real estate is more local than national and can change dramatically from one area to the next. In the article, Michael mentions that “pending sales in the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service are at a record level for January, signifying an increase in demand. This positive sign of market activity is a critical indication of recovery for Arizona’s real estate market.” Of course, this is not to say we are anywhere near a “boom” in the Tempe real estate market, but it does appear that many feel like the bottom may have been hit and that the road to recovery is near. Michael goes on to mention that “2010 won’t see a dramatic shift, but we can expect to see a shallow, upward trend across the market.”

In the article, Steve gives some good examples of what is happening in the short sale and foreclosure market. I always enjoy talking to Steve about the foreclosure and short sale markets and find him to be a great asset in keeping up on this ever changing topic. The monthly “mastermind meetings” held at the Fidelity offices allow several of us to meet on a regular basis to keep up on what is clearly the biggest part of the real estate market right now and will be for quite some time.

“The last three months of 2009 saw a 60 percent increase in short sale closings,” – Steve de Laveaga, SVP at Fidelity National Title in Tempe.

As the market turns and as people find prices to be at more affordable levels than they have seen in years past, I believe we are getting back to a location based real estate market where people are looking to make much better decisions than they made in the past. Obviously, I feel that homes near the light rail make a lot of sense for many people. The location, convenience, and now the pricing is getting a lot of interest from many types of people.

Congrats to my friends at Fidelity for the mention in the article and thanks for always being wiling to help and share some very interesting and valuable information. Let’s keep on “rockin’ the Rail life. :-)

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Rail Life “Flickr Pic” of the week – That Lovin’ Feelin’ is a post from: Rail Life

Unfortunately, my ‘pic of the week” isn’t a very good shot of the Tyler Hurst, Yuri Artibise, Katie Charland rendition of You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ from this past weekends CenPhoCamp. The quality of the picture doesn’t have nearly as much meaning as the song did to the opening of a GREAT “un-conference” where people got together to share ideas, knowledge and insight on a multitude of topics.

The fact is, the song was cheesy and poorly done but we all knew it was designed to be that way. The extra cheese helped to set a very cool tone for an awesome day where people freely shared their talents with others in many ways. Presenters, participants, volunteers all stepped up BIG in making the event a huge success.

I want to sincerely that the people behind CenPhoCamp for creating such a quality event on a shoe string budget. As a fan of BarCamps, I must say that I am already looking forward to the next one!

To see some great pictures from CenPhoCamp, check out the CenPhoCamp Flickr group! If you have pictures from the day, please add them!

Remember, Rail Life has a Phoenix Light Rail Group on Flickr. Basically, we want to share some of our pictures from the community and allow people to add their pics (or videos), as well. These can be light rail related, but we also want pics of your favorite spot, restaurant, sports team, community, event etc.

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