T h e b l u e S k y V i e wA p u b l i c a t i o n o f v a l l e y m e t r o b u s i n e s s s e r v i c e s SPRING 2011

Valley bike MonTh iS around The Corner!

April is Valley Bike Month, when residents and commuters exchange their cars to ride their bikes, enjoy the outdoors, and engage in healthy activities!

Groups are encouraged to take advantage of safe routes that Valley Metro and our partners provide. Below is a list of many events Valley-wide to choose from. For more details, visit ValleyMetro.org.

3/26: Avondale Eco Avenues Event, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Estrella Mtn. Comm. College | 3000 North Dysart Rd.,

Avondale Sustainability products and services, workshops, youth

activities. 3/26: Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni of Glendale Summer

Safety Fair, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cabela’s | 9380 W. Glendale, Glendale Safety information, bike safety rodeo, bike-on-bus

demonstrations. 3/30: REI Comprehensive Bike Maintenance Class, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Paradise Valley Mall | 12634 N. Paradise Village Pkwy,

Phoenix Bring your bike and work with an REI mechanic. Tools provid-

ed. Limited space, register early. Cost: $60 - 80. Also offered April 6.

3/30: REI Basic Bike Maintenance Class, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Paradise Valley Mall | 12634 N. Paradise Village Pkwy,

Phoenix How to change a flat, lube a chain and more. Also offered

April 6. 4/2: Chandler Family Bike Ride, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Chandler Park & Ride | 2100 S. Hamilton St., Chandler 7.8-mile ride. Pre-registration required. 4/2: 20th Annual El Tour de Mesa, 6:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. (varies) Red Mountain Park | 7745 E. Brown Rd., Mesa 1/4, 4-, 26- and 74-mile rides throughout Mesa. Cost: varies. 4/2: Peoria Pioneer Days Family Bike Ride, 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. 83rd Ave. /Cotton Crossing and Mountain View Rd., Peoria 6-mile ride, Pioneer Days Parade.4/2: REI Used Bike Drive, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. REI Stores| Tempe: 1405 W. Southern Ave and

Paradise Valley: 12634 N. Paradise Village Pkwy Donate your used bikes and bike parts.

4/3: 6th Annual Scottsdale Cycle the Arts, 9 a.m. - noon Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art 7374 East 2nd St., Scottsdale 3- or 10-mile ride, art tour, bike helmets required.4/5: REI Bike Commuting Classes, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Paradise Valley Mall | 12634 N. Paradise Village Pkwy,

Phoenix Overview of AZ bicycling laws, safety information, route

selection.4/10: Glendale Family Bike Ride, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. Sahuaro Ranch Park | 9802 N. 59th Ave., Glendale 6- or 15-mile ride, health fair, free t-shirts to first 500

registered. 4/16: Ciclovia Mesa 2011, 9 a.m. – noon Mesa City Plaza | 200 E. Main St., Mesa Self-guided tour of Mesa historical neighborhoods with free

valet bike parking. Part of the Mesa Arts Fest. 4/17: Valley Metro Great Bike Chase & Game,

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Diamondbacks vs. SF Giants Game: 1:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Chase Field | 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix Individual and group bike rides, free valet bike parking, bike

expo and safety rodeo, discounted D-backs tickets, kids’ activities.

4/20: Valley Bike to Work & School Day Participating cities Valley-wide. 4/20: SanTan Wheelie Jam - Phoenix, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Steele Indian School Park | 300 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix

Live local music, beer garden, bike crafts. Cost for food and drinks.

4/30: Arizona Bicycle Club Desert Classic, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Oggi’s Pizza & Brewery | 6681 W. Beardsley Rd., Glendale 34-, 63-, and 100-mile rides. Cost: varies.

Some events have check-in times. All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Northern Trust recently held its annual TRP event to recognize and reward participants for doing their part to help clean the air and reduce traffic congestion when using alternative modes of transportation.

Transportation Coordinator, Judi Rogalski, is very involved with promoting the Trip Reduction Program and is a member of the Maricopa County Trip Reduction Task Force. She knows the importance of the program and how much difference just one person can make to improving the quality of life for everyone in the Valley.

Judi did a great job in setting up the party and inviting all participants to come and join in the fun. This year, the theme was a “TRP Fiesta.” Mexican food, such as fajitas and enchiladas, was catered and centerpieces, consisting of colorful baskets filled with chip bags, were given away to those who attended.

Participants helped out by taking photos and conducting prize drawings. Prize drawings included:

• (2) $150 annual prizes• (2) $75 quarterly prizes• (2) $25 monthly prizes (hybrid and all alternative fuel

cars eligible)• (2) parking garage spaces plus a free car wash at Danny’s

Family Car Wash and reusable cup and straw• (1) $25 and $5 monthly prizes for High Pollution Advisory participants

Judi also provided Commuter Club Cards, clocks and grocery totes with Northern Trust’s logo. There were also donated items, such as tote bags, blankets and key chains. Nearly eighty participants were in attendance to join the festivities.

In addition to Judi’s efforts and the employees who participated, Northern Trust’s TRP is successful because it has support from its CEO, Steve MacLellan.

Congratulations on a successful TRP event!

a SuCCeSS STory: norThern TruST’S annual Trip reduCTion prograM (Trp) eVenT

Mexican food was catered as a reward for TRP participants

Participants were given material to encourage trying alternative modes of transportation

Judi Rogalski, Transportation Coordinator and Tim Hooker, bus rider and prize winner Steve MacLellan

CEO of Northern Trust

Rideshare Month, which took place February 1 -28, was a success thanks to Valley-wide employers and commuters. Participants took the pledge to “Try 1 in 5”, leaving their cars at home and taking alternative transportation modes to work and school.

There was also a kick-off event to promote awareness and share information on February 4 at CityScape in downtown Phoenix. Local bands Peachcake and Mill’s End performed songs from the Valley Metro Notes campaign and there were many great prize giveaways, too!

The result? Cleaner air, less traffic, and money savings!

Mills End performing “Just One Pass”

Peachcake performing “I Wanna Try 1 in 5”

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal HighwayAdministration

Employer’s Challenge

The following is a list of employers who signed up for Employer Challenge Week.

Arizona Biltmore Resort Arizona State University

Boeing Company Bureau of Reclamation

Carlisleit Jerrik Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Central Life Sciences Chandler Gilbert Family YMCA

City of Phoenix Costco – 44th St./Thomas Desert Mountain Club, Inc.

Embassy Suites Biltmore Friendship Village of Tempe

Hamilton Sundstrand JW Marriott Camelback Inn

Lehi Valley Trading Company Life Care Ctr. of N Glendale Make-A-Wish Foundation

Marcos de Niza High School Maricopa County

Northern Trust Parsons Brinckerhoff

Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix Indian Medical Center

Quarles & Brady Safelite Autoglass

SCF Arizona Scottsdale Cultural Council

Sierra Winds Special Devices Inc.

SRP Swift Transportation

Timken WorldatWork

Xpedx

rideShare MonTh a SuCCeSS!

We thank all who participated, especially our sponsors:

Arizona Avenue LINK Ribbon-cuttingFrom left: Dan Withers, D.L. Withers Construction; Chandler Councilmember Jack Sellers; Gilbert Vice Mayor & Valley Metro Board member Les Presmyk; Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny; Chandler Vice Mayor & Valley Metro Board member Trinity Donovan; Chandler Former Mayor Boyd Dunn; Mesa Councilmember Kyle Jones; Tempe Councilmember & Valley Metro Chair Shana Ellis; Chandler Councilmember Kevin Hartke; Valley Metro Executive Director David Boggs.

know More before you head ouT

You know the drill when you head out for the day. You run through a daily checklist before closing the door behind you. Got your keys? Check. Have your wallet? Check. Up to date on the air quality forecast? Click! That’s as easy as a click of your mouse.

• Log on to www.CleanAirMakeMore.com. The home page will show if any restrictions are in place at the top of the page and within the Clean Air Make More Desktop Widget.

• Sign up to receive email alerts or text messages when a No Burn Day, health watch and/or high pollution advisory is issued and click “Make the Commitment.”

• Download the Clean Air Make More Desktop Widget. The widget downloads to your computer’s desktop and auto-matically updates with the current air quality forecast and restrictions. Find step-by-step instructions for the download at www.cleanairmakemore.com.

• Not by a computer? Call the Maricopa County Burn Line at 602.506.6400 to find out if today is a No Burn Day. The line offers a recorded message in English and Spanish.

Valley Metro kicked off two new bus routes on January 24:

Route 184 - Power Road, travels from Mesa Community College to the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport providing the first service ever south of Superstition Springs Transit Center. Power Road is the home of many medical facilities, college campuses, businesses, and shopping areas. Also located along the route is House of Refuge, a transitional facility for homeless families currently in a work program and needing transportation to get to work and daycare.

The newest addition to the LINK also began on January 24 with the start-up of the Arizona Avenue & Country Club Drive LINK bus route. The route offers another connection to METRO light rail at the Sycamore Station from Chandler, AZ and Gilbert. The route features 20 new stations constructed with ARRA funds.

Both routes are operated using Proposition 400 funds, the half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2004 to fund regional transportation projects in Maricopa County. Events to celebrate each new service featured the band What Laura Says, who wrote and performed the song “How to Ride the Bus” as a part of the Valley Metro Notes campaign.

Route 184 Ribbon-cuttingFrom Left: Bryan Jungwirth, Valley Metro Chief of Staff; Tempe Councilmember & Valley Metro Chair Shana Ellis; Mesa Mayor Scott Smith; Gilbert Mayor John Lewis; Gilbert Vice Mayor & Valley Metro Board member Les Presmyk; Mesa Councilmember & Valley Metro Board member Scott Scomers; Mesa Councilwoman Dina Higgins.

Two new TraVel opTionS in The eaST Valley

You may report an air quality problem or polluter at any time by calling the Maricopa County Air Quality Department at 602.372.2703 or file online at www.maricopa.gov/aq under the Contact Us/Report a Violation tab. Air Quality Department inspectors respond to every call.

Meeting details sometimes change. Always RSVP and/or

consult ValleyMetro.org before going to

a meeting.

TCA meetings are a great venue to hear about current events happening at Valley Metro, our member cities and partners, and how they can impact your

Trip Reduction Program. We encourage you to attend and network with other Transportation Coordinators in your area.

Meeting Times & Locations• Meetings are held from 8:30 am – 10:00 am • Webinars are held from 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Valley Metro offers a free interactive workshop for new Transportation Coordinators (TCs) each month. The class is designed to provide an overview of the Trip Reduction Program and explain your role as the TC. Attendees will receive a comprehensive training manual.

Registration is required. To register, or if you have questions, please contact Jeff Reid at 602.523.6074 or jreid@valleymetro.org.

Location:101 N. 1st Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85003 METRO 13th floor board room

Sw Valley Fry’s Food Store 4230 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix 85009 Community Room

Ne ValleyTown of Paradise Valley 6433 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley 85253 Police Training Room

Nw Valley Arrowhead Mall Community Room7700 W. Arrowhead Towne Center Community Room is upstairs. Enter near Food Court restrooms.

Se Valley Friendship Village of Tempe 2525 E. Southern Avenue, Tempe 85282 Health Care Center Community Room, G Level

CeNtRal PhoeNIx Phoenix Art Museum Board Room Wolfswinkel Education Center 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix 85004

webINaR 10:00 a.m. 4th Wednesday of EVERY month

2011 TranSporTaTion CoordinaTor aSSoCiaTion (TCa) MeeTingS

Upcoming Training Classes:9:00 am - 11:30 am

• Wednesday, March 9 • Thursday, April 14 • Tuesday, May 24

Parking:There is limited visitor parking available. If visitor parking is full, you can park at the 21 W. Van Buren parking garage and walk one block south to 101 N. 1st Ave. Parking at these two locations will be validated if you do not opt for an All-day transit pass. Upon registration, a detailed map and instructions will be emailed to you.

MONTHSW

ValleyNE

ValleyNW Valley

SE Valley

Central Phoenix

Webinar

March 3/2 3/8 3/16 3/17 3/24 3/23

April No meeting No meeting No meeting No meeting No meeting 4/27

May 5/4 5/10 5/18 5/19 5/26 5/25

buSINeSS SeRVICeS Staff

Dawn M. Coomer602.523.6053

Transportation Demand Management Manager

Eddie Caine602.523.6062

Southeast region

Suzanne Day 602.523.6063 Central region

Lillian Duarte602.523.6065

Northeast region

Margaret Perez602.523.6072

Southwest region

CJ Schneider 602.523.6077

Northwest region

new To The Trip reduCTion prograM?

To RSVP and for details, contact:Suzanne Day, sday@valleymetro.org or 602.523.6063 or Lillian Duarte, lduarte@valleymetro.org or 602.523.6065.

The Blue Sky View newsletter is a publication of Valley Metro and is available online at ValleyMetro.org.

With the recent addition of 7-Eleven and select Valero stores across the Valley, there are more than 230 locations to purchase passes. For a complete list, along with the type of passes available and store hours, visit ValleyMetro.org.

*Store participation varies

ValleyMetro.org 602.262.RIDE (7433) TTY: 602.251.2039

buy your TranSiT paSS before you board and SaVe *

RDS1459/SN

/2-22-11

Valley Metro Notes is a community effort featuring a series of animated music videos teaching the ins and outs of riding public transit, written and recorded by the Valley’s hottest local bands. Each song illustrates how to ride the bus and light rail, which pass to use, how to take a bike on the bus, transit courtesy and much more.

Check out “Be Courteous” by Captain Squeegee and “Take Your Bike for Ride” by What Laura Says debuting in March and April at ValleyMetro.org/notes. You can view the videos, download the songs and see behind-the-scenes clips and interviews with the bands in the recording studio.

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