Mesa began talking about extending light rail in the city way before the light rail even went into Mesa… From day one, it seems as if they ( and many others ) saw the benefits of running tracks in their city.
Shortly after the original 20 miles of light rail line opened in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, METRO received local and regional approval for a 3.1 mile extension from the current end of line stop at Sycamore to just east of Mesa Drive.
While we have heard of tremendous strides already being made in downtown Mesa, many people have also been talking about the potential for revitalization efforts along Main Street, should the line be extended to Gilbert Road. The thought there is that Gilbert Road is a more logical east valley destination than Mesa Drive and would attract many more riders. These riders are seen as a catalyst for redeveloping an aging commercial corridor just east of the downtown core.
Might Make $ense
If you look at the areas from Mesa Drive to Gilbert Road, they certainly have potential for growth and improvement. There is a mix of commercial and residential properties along the corridor that could most certainly use an economic shot in the arm.
Talk About It
Take a look at the press release below and take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about what has been done concerning this next phase, as well as learn where they are in the process, and what the future may hold.
While the event mentioned below is a public forum, there will also be business owner meetings on November 7th at 4pm, November 8th at 11am, and the 13th at 6pm located at the Denny’s restaurant at 1210 East Main Street. ( NE corner of Main and Stapley ) If you are a Mesa business owner, you will want to check these out.
Mayor Smith and former METRO CEO Rick Simonetta
Public meeting to discuss light rail extension to Gilbert Road
The Feasibility Study evaluated various alternatives related to the 1.9 mile extension.
PHOENIX, AZ — Valley Metro and the city of Mesa invite the community to attend a public meeting to learn more about extending light rail on Main Street between Mesa Drive and Gilbert Road. Attendees will be updated on the Feasibility Study that evaluated various alternatives related to this future extension. Valley Metro and the city of Mesa are now entering into the next phase of the planning process, the Environmental Assessment (EA). At this meeting, two route alternatives will be reviewed, as well as the location and parking capacity necessary for a park-and-ride facility proposed for the west side of the intersection of Main Street and Gilbert Road. Project staff will be on-hand to provide information and collect comments.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
6 – 8 p.m. (presentation at 6:30 p.m.)
St. Peter Lutheran Church
1844 E. Dana Ave. (between Forest and Shouse streets)
In 2009, METRO, Mesa City Council and Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) approved a locally preferred alternative to extend light rail five miles on Main Street from Sycamore to Gilbert Road in two phases. The first phase is the 3.1-mile Central Mesa light rail extension from Sycamore, through downtown Mesa to Mesa Drive that is currently under construction. The second phase is the 1.9 mile extension that ends at Gilbert Road.
For additional information or to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities at this meeting, please contact Alex Albert at (602) 980-0913/TTY (602) 251-2039 or aalbert@valleymetro.org. Also contact Alex to be added to the Gilbert Road email distribution list.
Additional information is available online at www.metrolightrail.org/gilbertroad.
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