Google Transit Coming Soon To Rock The Rail Life! is a post from: Rail Life

Have you heard of Google Transit, a feature of Google Maps that began in October of 2007 and now covers 445 cities worldwide? Google Transit helps you get around town using the “Get Directions” feature of Google Maps and the option to use public transit.

Valley Metro has been working with the 14 member cities of the Regional Public Transit Association (RPTA) to bring this feature to Valley residents. We’ve covered a lot of ground in the testing phase, but it’s a big Valley with a lot of transit routes to verify so we’re not yet ready to introduce it for use. Here’s a little more about what Google Transit will do once it’s online (using a test account set up for us by Google): Like any trip using Google Maps, I input my origin and destination. In this case I want to leave the Valley Metro offices to go to the Phoenix Zoo. I’ve expanded the options section to tell Google I want to leave the office at 10:00 am, and I want to use public transit.

When I click on “Get Directions” the map shows me public transit options, and I can click on the bus icon to get more information on the route selected.

The text on the left side of the Google Transit webpage gives me the specifics of the trip, and shows multiple transit options if they are available. Note that all Valley Metro Transit Book information is uploaded to Google Transit – the transit feature knows that a Route 3 bus is scheduled to depart Central station at 10:14, and should arrive at the Phoenix Zoo at 10:47 am.

More complex trips for Google Transit may involve taking an Express Bus or RAPID to downtown, connecting to METRO Light Rail, and then walking to your final destination. Add to that the comprehensive time schedules involved with each transit route, and you can see we’ve got our hands full. It takes careful coordination to get all of the correct information in the right format to Google so that residents can use an accurate online transit service. Once the service is online, our Share The Ride users can see their Google Transit options with just one click. Their origin and destination information is already saved to their profile, along with their commuting schedule. A “Show Transit” button will change their commute map into a Google Transit map, as shown below in a demonstration account.

ShareTheRide users can then find carpool, vanpool and transit options for their commute all in one place, using one account. When can you see, test and travel around the Valley using Google Transit? We hope to have it ready by the end of April, and we’re working closely with transit agencies around the Valley to make that happen. We know Google Transit will help both residents and tourists visit all the great destinations the Valley has to offer.

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Big thanks to Valley Metro for sending this information to Rail Life today! We are REALLY looking forward to Google Transit being available here!

Rail Life “Flickr Pic” of the week – Palm Trees and a Potato Chip is a post from: Rail Life

Living and playing near the light rail line in Arizona provides many different types of scenery. We see all kinds of stuff from Mesa, to Tempe and into Phoenix. I took this shot of a whole bunch of Palm Trees this past week while standing on a 5th floor balcony looking over one of our historic districts.

A free cup of coffee from Royal Coffee at the Market to the first person that can name three things about this picture.

1. The historic district I am looking at.

2. The building in the background that looks like a potato chip.

3. The name of the building I shot the picture from.

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.

** Update: Thanks to Ed Jensen for being first to answer. Yep, coffee is on me one day soon, Ed. I knew part of the question was easy but wasn’t sure how quickly people would get the Embassy part. This was kind of fun! Thanks to the people that answered on Facebook and via email as well.**

Final ride for Metro CEO Rick Simonetta is a post from: Rail Life

Metro light rail outgoing CEO Rick Simonetta was honored this past week with a “farewell” ride and reception at the Phoenix Art Museum.  The shindig was made possible by a lot of “transportation geeks” pulling out all the stops to thank Rick for his hard work on our light rail system. Simonetta was honored by his peers and city leadership for his six years of service and expertise, opening up the Valley’s first light rail system on time and on budget. Without a doubt, the early success of this system has changed the tone for light rail ( and transportation in general) in Arizona.

Local and national groups  HDR consultants, COMTO transportation officials, WTS along with Friends of Transit and the Arizona Transit Association teamed up to host the last ride and farewell reception. 

On Wednesday, a train left the Sycamore/Main station in Mesa a little after 4:10 p.m. with Simonetta and Mesa city leadership and staff on board.  The train then traveled  west to pick up leaders in both Tempe and Phoenix. The group all disembarked at the Central/McDowell station and proceeded to the reception site at the Phoenix Art Museum. I bet you have never seen so many suits on the light rail!

Our itinerary was as follows:

* Train departs at 4:10 p.m. from the Sycamore/Main station.

* Picks up Tempe leadership at 4:23 p.m. from the Veterans Way/College station.

* Picks up Phoenix leadership at 4:50 p.m. from the Washington/Central station.

* Group disembarks at the Central/McDowell station at 4:55 p.m.

* VIP reception from 5 – 6 p.m. -  Full reception from 6 – 8 p.m.

 Who was there? Mayors, Vice Mayors and Council members of METRO member cities along with people from COMTO were onboard to participate and speak at the reception.

Dorsha Hale with HDR was instrumental in putting together this really cool “farewell video” for Simonetta and allowed me and my “video guru” friend, Tyler Hurst to help put it together.

Thanks so much to Rick and to METRO light rail for giving me some fun stuff to write about! :-)

Rail Life “Flickr Pic” of the week – Happy Birthday Tempe Town Lake is a post from: Rail Life

For many, it is hard to believe Tempe Town Lake is ten years old. For others, it feels like it has been here “forever.” The lake is a big part of Tempe and is a major draw for residents and tourists alike.

This past weekend, many rode the light rail to the Tempe Town Lake birthday party and were part of a large celebration featuring food, fun, music and cake!

According to Kris Baxter at the City of Tempe:

“We gave away thousands of pieces of gourmet cake, had 17 bands play for the audience, had lots of kids make arts and crafts and play games, finishing it all off with happy birthday to Town Lake, a boat parade and fireworks!”

So.. Happy birthday to Tempe Town Lake!

Photo by Dean Ouellette

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.

Rail Life “Flickr Pic” of the week – Full Speed Ahead! is a post from: Rail Life

The Rail Life “pic of the week” took a little vacation for a while ( mainly because some spineless jerk hijacked the Rail Life Flickr account ),  but I have decided to begin again. I thought this cool picture was a great place to start with it’s “full speed ahead” feel to it.

While many of us like the the light rail, through the lens of a good photographer, it can be really cool. One of my recent favorite additions to our Phoenix light rail group on Flickr ( yes, you can add pics too! ) was shot by my friend Grant who does some awesome work in shooting the light rail cars.

For this photo, I really thought it looked like the train was just flyin’ by. Check it out… We hope you enjoy.

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.

Light Rail brings RailGating to Tempe is a post from: Rail Life

ASU Football games are always a good time and tailgating is never a bad idea.

Now that we have light rail available to drop people off right in front of Sun Devil Stadium, many people are using it to get to the games and a new term has been introduced to light rail riding Sun Devils.

RailGating is here… Soon, it will be an art form. There is no right or wrong way to railgate, just have fun. There will be people that join existing tailgaters, people will use one of the FREE park and Ride lots and then stop at restaurants and bars near Sun Devil Stadium, downtown Phoenix students can take light rail to the game and meet up with friends, etc.

I know a ton of cool people that have some great tailgating parties. While the “traditional” tailgate can’t be beat, if you have friends that are doing it up right, it might be easier for you to take light rail to Sun Devil Stadium and join them!

In the future, I’ll try get some of our friends that own restaurants and bars along the light rail line to offer special discounts to our readers so stay tuned!

Make sure you follow RailLife on Twitter and watch the “hashtags” of #RailLife and #RailGating for fun things to do.

People are encouraged to share their experiences with us in the “official Flickr RailGating group” by taking photos of your Sun Devil pride.

** Update: Check out these two cool RailGating articles form the ASU State Press and from AT&T Sparky Central! **

View RailGating Map in a larger map
]]> http://raillife.com/blog/2009/10/03/railgating/feed/ 10 http://raillife.com/blog/2009/06/07/rail-life-flickr-pic-of-the-week-ok-to-take-bikes-on-light-rail/ http://raillife.com/blog/2009/06/07/rail-life-flickr-pic-of-the-week-ok-to-take-bikes-on-light-rail/#comments Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:31:00 +0000 Rail Life /blog/post/2009/06/07/Rail-Life-Flickr-Pic-of-the-week-ok-to-take-bikes-on-light-rail.aspx Rail Life “Flickr Pic” of the week – ok to take bikes on light rail is a post from: Rail Life

Rail Life “Flickr Pic” of the week – Light Rail Artwork varies greatly is a post from: Rail Life

The artwork at the light rail stations is unique to every stop. The styles and sizes vary greatly and are fun to check out. I noticed this piece again on Saturday as I passed the University / Rural station on my way to the annual Spring Game at Sun Devil Stadium. In the background, you can see part of the stadium.

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to view the artwork at the individual stations, give it a try. I’ll try to add some more pics of it in the near future.

Photo by RailLife.com

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.

Get an early taste of Sun Devil football! is a post from: Rail Life

You probably know by now that the new light rail line will make it even easier to get to the ASU football games this year. Heck, there is a station practically right outside of the front gates which should help with some of the parking challenges of the past years.

This Saturday, April 18th is the annual Spring Game and Select-a-Seat for the 2009 ASU football season. Basically, it is an opportunity to get  a sneak peek at this years Sun Devil Football team while selecting from the available seats for the upcoming 7-game home schedule. Gates open at 11:30am, and the team takes the field at approximately 12:30pm.

Mark your schedules to meet us at the games! The HOME schedule for this year is as follows:

Sept. 5 Idaho State

Sept. 19 Louisiana-Monroe

Oct. 3 Oregon State

Oct. 17 Washington

Oct. 31 California

Nov. 7 USC

Nov. 28 Arizona

Check out this video of Kerry Taylor during a recent spring football practice to get a fun taste of what is to come!

Rail Life “Flickr Pic” of the week – Lights on the light rail bridge is a post from: Rail Life

The award winning light rail bridge that travels over Tempe Town Lake is really cool. From these great pictures by our Flickr friend, disneybrent, you can see how beautiful it is when lit up at night. I don't think many people get a chance to see the bridge as captured in these shots.

To see the bridge at night, you can visit Tempe Beach Park which is located just north of the station at Mill Avenue and 3rd Street.

Flickr pic used with permission of DisneyBrent

Flickr pic used with permission of DisneyBrent

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.