# Presentation: 187715

## Slide 1

## National Surface TransportationInfrastructure Financing CommissionRichard J. Simonetta Chief Executive Officer

**February 12, 2008**

## Continued Population Growth

**Notes:**
And we are going to need this capacity, with our continued population boom at the rate of 1 million per decade.

By the time the transportation improvements in Prop. 400 are complete, more than 7 million people will live here.

## Travel Increasing Faster Than Population

**Notes:**
All these people are going to need to get around the Valley.  What happens, though, is that, as new people move to the outskirts of the Valley, miles traveled increases much faster than population. 

And the number of new vehicles on the road will also increase faster than the population.

METRO light rail is being developed as a regional solution to address our growing transportation challenges.  

## Transit Election History

**1989: ValTrans – Regional**
**1994: Proposition 400 – Regional**
**1996: Proposition 400 – Tempe**
**1997: Proposition 1 – Phoenix**
**1997: Proposition 1 – Scottsdale**
**1998: Question #1 – Chandler**
**1998: Quality of Life Tax - Mesa**
**2000: Proposition 2000 – Phoenix**
**2001: Proposition 402 -  Glendale**
**2004: Proposition 400 – Regional**

**Notes:**
Over the past decade or so, there have been a number of elections to try to address our transportation problems.   

First was Val Trans.  Regional election.  Major improvements to transit, including about 100 miles of elevated light rail.  Too much, too soon.  Went down in flames.

In 1996, Tempe was the first to lead the way by successfully passing a transit referendum.  
In 1998, Mesa passed a Quality of Life tax, which was not a dedicated transit tax.  Pays for the arts, aquatic center, etc.
Then last March, Phoenix passed Transit 2000.

These elections provided the revenue needed to pay for our project and other transit improvements.    

##  Light Rail/High Capacity Transit System 57-Mile System

** ****Light Rail/High Capacity Transit System ****57-Mile System**

**Notes:**
With voter passage of Proposition 400 in November, nearly 50 miles of light rail are now planned in the Valley.  The METRO initial line is shown in pink and the extensions are shown on the map in blue. 

We are in the infancy of a creating a system that will continue to be expanded for at least the next 20 years – and will be around for generations to come.  

**Light Rail moves more people**

## METRO Light Rail Transit Program

**57-mile system by 2026**
**20 miles in construction**
**5 miles in design**
**	**** ****(Northwest Extension)**
**Phoenix sales tax (2000)**
**32 additional miles in planning**

## Slide 9

## Line Sections

## Operations and Maintenance Center

** **

## Light Rail Vehicles

**50 of 50 vehicles have arrived in Phoenix**
**Final assembly at OMC by Kinkisharyo**

## “Cool Screen” Station

**Notes:**
So our designers thought outside the box and added vertical shade elements to shield the low morning and afternoon sun in the form of louvers that act like Venetian blinds, as well as vine trellises.  

Overhead canopies and trees at the stations will provide additional shade.

## Construction Status

**Construction: 79.6% complete**
**Overall project: 82% complete**
**94% of total track in place**
**Opening date: December 2008**

## Economic Development in Phoenix2000 to present

**$5.7 ****billion total development investment within quarter-mile of Phoenix alignment**
**                ****-$2.2 billion is public investment **
**5,500 ****residential units**
**7.8 ****million square feet commercial planned, under construction, or completed**
**	**

**Source:  Phoenix Downtown Development Office*

## Slide 16