People are being encouraged to take a bus, light rail or use the park and ride lots for the upcoming New Year's Eve celebrations in Tempe. This just came to us from the city of Tempe. Take a look!
Tempe, Ariz – The city of Tempe will make it easy for residents to get to the Insight Bowl & Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party Dec. 31 with convenient parking locations and FREE bus, light rail and park-and-ride services.
TRANSIT
People are encouraged to ride the bus and light rail for FREE to the festivities. Before 3 p.m., the bus routes listed below will run according to regular schedules. From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., the northbound trips on the routes listed below will run every 15 minutes to downtown Tempe.
• 56 – Priest (north from Elliot to Washington to connect to light rail station)
• 62 – Hardy (north from Warner to Priest and Washington light rail station)
• 72 – Rural (north from Ray Road to Apache/McClintock to connect to light rail station)
• 81 – Hayden/McClintock (north from ASU Research Park to Apache Blvd. to connect to light rail station)
• 92 – 48th St./Guadalupe (north from Arizona Mills Mall to Tempe Transportation Center)
The bus routes listed below will depart downtown Tempe every 15 minutes or as needed from midnight to 2 a.m.
• 62 – Hardy (south to Warner Road/IKEA)
• 65 – Mill/Kyrene (south to Warner Road)
• 92 – 48th Street/Guadalupe (south to Guadalupe and Price roads)
• Orbit Mercury, Venus, Earth and Jupiter will also operate during this time.
All other routes will run according to regular schedules unless on detour. Please be sure to check the Valley Metro website at www.valleymetro.org for late night bus schedules. Light rail will run every 20 minutes until 2 a.m.
PARK-AND-RIDE LOCATIONS
Residents are encouraged to park at one of the following park-and-ride locations and take transit for FREE to the festivities. Park and ride lots are open from 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1.
• Arizona Mills Mall – event parking located on the east side of the mall south of El Pollo Loco – board bus near Entry #1 (Route 92)
• Tempe Sports Complex located at the northeast corner of Hardy Drive and Warner Road (Route 62)
• Tempe Library Complex located at the southwest corner of Rural Road and Southern Avenue (Library Shuttle)
• Dorsey and Apache (Light Rail)
• McClintock and Apache (Light Rail)
• Price and Apache (Light Rail)
If you choose to park at one of the designated park-and-rides listed above, please secure your vehicle and belongings. Property owners will not be held responsible for stolen or damaged vehicles.
BUS DETOURS
On Dec. 31, board any bus in Tempe and ride FREE for the entire service day. The following routes will be on detour: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Jupiter, 30, 62, 65, 66, 72, 76, 92. Not all routes will be detoured in both directions.
• Westbound 30 – University: From 3rd quarter to 1 hour after the Insight Bowl ends — Regular route to University & McClintock; south on McClintock; west on Apache; north on Rural; west on University to resume regular route.
• Westbound 30 – University: From 11 p.m. to end of service the service day — Regular route to University & McClintock; south on McClintock; west on Apache; north on Rural; west on University to resume regular route.
• Northbound 62 – Hardy: From 8 p.m. on Dec. 30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 31 — Regular route to 1st St. & Farmer; south on Farmer; east on 5th St.; south on Ash; east on University; north on College; west on 5th St. to Tempe Transportation Center.
• Southbound 62 – Hardy: From 8 p.m. on Dec. 30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 31 — Depart Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St.; south on College; west on University; north on Ash; west on 5th St. to resume regular route.
• Northbound 62 – Hardy: From 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2:15 a.m. Jan. 1 — Regular route to Hardy & University; west on University; north on Priest; west on Washington to light rail station.
• Southbound 62 – Hardy: From 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2:15 a.m. Jan. 1 — Depart Washington & Priest light rail station; west on Washington; north on Desert; east on Salt River Dr.; south on Priest; east on University; south on Hardy to resume regular route.
• Southbound 65 – Mill/Kyrene: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 — Depart Tempe Transportation Center; west on 5th St.; south on Forest; east on 6th St.; south on College; west on University; south on Mill to resume regular route.
• Northbound 66 – Mill/68th St.: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 31- – Regular route to Tempe Transportation Center; depart Transportation Center east on 5th St.; south on College; east on University; north on Rural; west on Curry; north on College to resume regular route.
• Southbound 66 – Mill/68th St.: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 31 — Regular route to College & Curry; east on Curry; south on Scottsdale/Rural; west on University; north on College; west on 5th St. to Tempe Transportation Center; depart Transportation Center east on 5th St.; south on College; west on University; south on Mill to resume regular route.
• Northbound and Southbound 66 – Mill/68th St.: From 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 — Route is split with service from Guadalupe/McClintock to Tempe Transportation Center and service from Priest/Washington to Scottsdale Fashion Square.
– Northbound 66 – Mill/68th St.: From Guadalupe/McClintock to Tempe Transportation Center — Regular route to Tempe Transportation Center; route ends.
– Southbound 66 – Mill/68th St.: – – Depart Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St.; south on College; west on University; south on Mill to resume regular route.
– Northbound 66 – Mill/68th St.: Priest/Washington to Scottsdale Fashion Square — Depart Priest/Washington light rail station; east on Washington/Curry; north on College to resume regular route.
– Southbound 66 – Mill/68th St.: – – Regular route to College & Curry; west on Curry/Washington; north on Mill; west on Center Pkwy.; south on Priest; east on Washington to light rail station.
• Northbound 72 – Scottsdale/Rural: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 31 – – Regular route to Tempe Transportation Center; depart Transportation Center east on 5th St.; south on College; east on University to resume regular route.
• Southbound 72 – Scottsdale/Rural: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 31 – – Regular route to Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St.; south on College; east on University; south on McAllister to resume regular route.
• Northbound 72- Scottsdale/Rural: From 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2:15 a.m. Jan. 1 — Regular route to Rural & Apache; east on Apache; north on McClintock; west on Curry; north on Scottsdale to resume regular route.
• Southbound 72 – Scottsdale/Rural: From 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2:15 a.m. Jan. 1 — Regular route to Scottsdale & Curry; east on Curry; south on McClintock; west on Apache; south on Rural to resume regular route.
• Northbound 76 – Miller: From 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 — Depart Priest/Washington light rail station; east on Washington/Curry; north on Miller to resume regular route.
• Southbound 76 – Miller: From 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 — Regular route to Miller & Curry; west on Curry/Washington; north on Mill; west on Center Pkwy.; south on Priest; east on Washington to light rail station.
• Northbound 92 – 48th St/Guadalupe: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 — Regular route to Mill & University; east on University; north on College; west on 6th St.; north on Forest; north into Tempe Transportation Center via west driveway.
• Orbit Earth Forward: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 31 — Regular route to Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St.; south on College; east on University; north on Rural; west on Curry; north on College to resume regular route.
• Orbit Earth Back: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 31 — Regular route to College & Curry; east on Curry; south on Scottsdale/Rural; west on University; north on College; west on 5th St. to Tempe Transportation Center to resume regular route.
• Orbit Earth Forward: From 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2:15 a.m. Jan. 1 — Depart Priest/Washington light rail station; north on Priest; east on Center Pkwy.; south on Mill; east on Curry; resume regular route at Mill/Curry to Tempe Marketplace; exit Tempe Marketplace via Smith Rd.; south on Smith; west on Apache; north on McClintock; east on Rio Salado; north on Perry to Tempe Marketplace.
• Orbit Earth Back – From 3 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2:15 a.m. Jan. 1 — Depart Tempe Marketplace resume regular route to College/Curry; west on Curry/Washington; north on Priest to layover at 1st bus stop at light rail station.
• Orbit Jupiter Forward: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 — Regular route to Mill & University; east on University; north on Forest; north into Tempe Transportation Center to resume regular route.
• Orbit Jupiter Back – From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 — Regular route to Tempe Transportation Center; south on Forest; west on University; south on Mill to resume regular route.
• Orbit Mercury Eastbound: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 — Depart Tempe Transportation Center; south on Forest; east on University to resume regular route.
• Orbit Venus Forward: From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 — Regular route to 5th St. & Ash; south on Ash; east on University; north on Forest; north into Tempe Transportation Center to resume regular route.
• Orbit Venus Back – From 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1 –Regular route to Tempe Transportation Center; south on Forest; west on University; north on Farmer; west on 5th St. to resume regular route.
Bus and light rail service on Jan. 1 will operate according to Sunday/Holiday schedules. For bus trip planning, call Valley Metro at (602) 253-5000 or visit www.valleymetro.org.
STREET CLOSURES/RESTRICTIONS
The following street closures will be in effect:
• Mill Avenue between Third Street and University Drive will be closed in both directions from 8 p.m. Dec. 30 to 8 a.m. Jan. 1.
• Mill Avenue between Curry Road/Washington Street and Third Street will be closed in both directions from 10 p.m. Dec. 30 to 8 a.m. Jan. 1.
• Rio Salado Parkway between Ash Avenue and Packard Drive will be closed in both directions from 10 p.m. Dec. 30 to 8 a.m. Jan. 1. Access to the SunCor development will be provided by Tempe police via Scottsdale Road.
• Rio Salado Parkway between Hardy Drive and Mill Avenue will be closed in both directions from 11 a.m. Dec. 31 to 8 a.m. Jan. 1.
• Veterans Way between College Avenue and Sixth Street will be closed in both directions from 10 a.m. Dec. 31 to 8 am Jan 1.
• University Drive between Mill Avenue and Rural Road will be closed in both directions from 11 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1.
• From approximately 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 31 AND from 11 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, the Loop 202 eastbound and westbound off-ramps at Scottsdale Road will be closed.
• Eastbound Rio Salado Parkway between Priest Drive and Hardy Drive will be closed from 11 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1.
The following street restrictions will be in effect:
• From approximately 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 31 AND from 11 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, Scottsdale Road between Curry Road and Rio Salado Parkway will be restricted to northbound traffic only.
• Rural Road between Rio Salado Parkway and Sixth Street will be restricted to northbound traffic only from approximately 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 31.
• Rural Road between Sixth Street and University Drive will be restricted to southbound traffic only from 11 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1.
• From approximately 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 31 AND from 11 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, University Drive between Rural Road and McClintock Drive will be restricted to eastbound traffic only. One westbound lane will be provided between Athletes Place and McClintock Drive for local business access.
PARKING
Public parking costs vary from $5 to $20 in the downtown area. People are encouraged to park at one of the following locations:
• Hayden Square – enter off of Fifth Street and Ash
• Centerpoint – enter off of University and Ash
• Rio Salado Parkway and Priest Drive
For more information about the Insight Bowl or Insight Fiesta Bowl Block Party, visit www.insightbowl.com. For street restrictions and closures, visit www.tempe.gov/streetclosures.
For more information call (480) 350-2775
I can’t wait to read about the festivities! This will be a great development for the Phoenix area, and a nice way to kick off 2009.
Thanks Eric… C’mon out and join us in the fun! 🙂