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Tempe receives prestigious EPA award for Transportation Center

From the Tempe Newsroom: The city of Tempe today received a coveted Smart Growth Achievement Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its downtown Transportation Center. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson recognized the facility as a model for sustainable design, a vibrant, mixed-use regional transportation hub that incorporates innovative and green building elements tailored to the desert environment. 

The Tempe Transportation Center is a true multi-modal facility that integrates a METRO light rail stop, the city’s main bus station and the Bicycle Cellar, a full-service bicycle commuter facility with secure bicycle parking, showers, lockers, bicycle sales and rentals. www.thebicyclecellar.com 

“Every year the Smart Growth Achievement Award winners show us new and creative ways to bring environmental sustainability to our communities – and this year is no exception,” Jackson said. “Smart growth has an important role to play in building a new foundation for prosperity in communities across the nation.” 

Tempe was one of four communities receiving the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement at today’s ceremony in Washington. Other recipients were: Lancaster County, Pa., Planning Commission; city of Charlotte, N.C; and Chicago Housing Authority. 

For more information on the Tempe Transportation Center, call 480-350-2775 or visit www.tempe.gov/greenprograms.

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Tempe Recognized as Valley Leader for Bicycle Efforts

Tempe Recognized for Bicycle Efforts

The city of Tempe Transportation Program, Tempe in Motion, received an award Oct. 27 from the Clean Air Campaign for its comprehensive bicycle program . The Clean Air Awards recognize the best clean air and alternative transportation programs in Maricopa County. 

The city received the award for implementing an outstanding bicycle program by encouraging commuters to use bicycles as an alternative mode through improved facilities, educational programs and events. Annual bicycle events include the Tour de Tempe community bike ride, Bike to Work and School Day and the Bike-a-Palooza.

Tempe recently opened Bicycle Cellar, the first facility of its kind in Arizona to offer secure bicycle parking and related services to make cyclists’ lives easier. Services include repairs, equipment and accessory sales, bicycle advice and education, bicycle rentals and restrooms and changing rooms. Bicycle Cellar offers various membership plans, and members have access to the facility from 4 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.

A city of Tempe employee, Oddvar Tveit, received the outstanding bicyclists commuter award from the Clean Air Campaign. Oddvar has ridden his bicycle to work everyday since June 2003 racking up more than 27,000 miles on his bike.  His dedication is paramount as he has made commuting by bicycle a staple of his life.

Tempe has approximately 170 miles of dedicated bikeways, including on-street bike lanes and off-street multi-use paths and is designated a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.

For information, call (480) 350-2775 or visit www.tempe.gov/tim.

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Tempe Orbit bus Systems may lose routes

Tempe Orbit bus Systems may lose routes

Tempe to host public meetings about Orbit and bus systems

Tempe residents are encouraged to attend one of three public meetings to learn more about potential route changes to the existing Orbit neighborhood circulator and fixed route arterial bus systems. The purpose of these meetings is to gather ideas from neighbors and get input on potential Orbit route changes that may occur in January and/or July 2010.
The scope of the proposed route changes has been expanded to include the majority of the arterial bus route system in Tempe. These proposed changes are due in large part to the slowing economy. The Tempe transit system is funded primarily by a half cent sales tax, which has dramatically decreased causing Tempe to reevaluate the Orbit transit system to make it more efficient in order to reduce costs. Passengers and residents are able to comment online beginning Oct. 28. at www.tempe.gov/tim. The same Orbit bus systems information will be presented at all three meetings. Meetings will occur:

Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.
Pyle Adult Recreation Center
655 E. Southern Ave., Tempe
 
Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
Tempe Transportation Center
Don Cassano Community Room
200 E. Fifth St., Tempe
 
Nov. 7 at 10 a.m.
Tempe Transportation Center
Don Cassano Community Room
200 E. Fifth St., Tempe
 
For information about Orbit bus systems, call (480) 350-2775 or visit www.tempe.gov/tim

Street closures and bus service for ASU football games

This information was just released by the City of Tempe:

Several downtown Tempe streets will be closed or restricted during all ASU home football games. Below is a list of all ASU home football games, street closures/restrictions and bus detours.

• Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. – ASU vs. Northern Arizona

• Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. – ASU vs. Stanford

• Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. – ASU vs. UNLV

• Sept. 20 at 5:13 p.m. – ASU vs. Georgia

• Oct. 25 at TBD – ASU vs. Oregon

• Nov. 15 at TBD – ASU vs. Washington St.

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Rural Rd potential site for Light Rail

According to a recent survey conducted by the Federal Transit Administration, Rural Road has the most daily bus riders in Tempe.The survey indicated that nearly 3,500 people or 44 percent of all bus riders travel down Rural Road each day.

That makes Rural Rd the best site for a light rail expansion. The proposed alternative routes include the Tempe Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad corridor, Mill Avenue/Kyrene Road and McClintock Drive.

Marc Soronson, the transportation project manager for the Tempe South Alternatives Analysis study believes the light rail line could be constructed in one year depending on the utilities available.

The project is still in its initial stage and requires community input to progress.   “We won’t get anything constructed without the concurrence of the community,” Soronson said. “It just doesn’t happen.”   A final project proposal is expected by early 2009.

Tempe encourages residents to ride Orbit to ASU home football games

The city of Tempe transportation program, Tempe in Motion, will make it easy for residents to get to all Arizona State University home football games. Residents who live along any of the four, free Orbit routes (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Jupiter) that serve Sun Devil Stadium are encouraged to use the service. Hours of operation on Orbit Mercury, Venus, Earth and Jupiter will be extended until midnight on game days. Residents who do not live along an Orbit route are encouraged to park at the Tempe Library Complex (3500 S. Rural Road) located at the southwest corner of Southern Avenue and Rural Road and take Orbit Jupiter to the game. Below is a list of all ASU home football games and tentative kick-off times:

* Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. - ASU vs. Northern Arizona

* Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. - ASU vs. Stanford

* Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. - ASU vs. UNLV

* Sept. 20 at 5:13 p.m. - ASU vs. Georgia

* Oct. 25 at TBD - ASU vs. Oregon

* Nov. 15 at TBD - ASU vs. Washington St.

* Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. - ASU vs. UCLA

Tempe to host open house about proposed bus service changes

From the city website:

Tempe bus riders are encouraged to attend an open house/public hearing to learn about revised bus service changes proposed for December 2008. The purpose of the open house is to get additional input from Tempe residents on the proposed changes. The open house/public hearing will occur Aug. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Tempe Public Library located at 3500 S. Rural Road, Tempe.

Affected routes include Red Line, 1, 30, 56, 65, 66, 72, 76, 81, 108, Flash, Orbit Mercury, Mars and Jupiter. An online comment form is available until Aug. 19 at www.tempe.gov/tim. Residents may also submit written comments to Tempe in Motion, P.O. Box 5002, Tempe AZ, 85280. For information call (480) 350-2775.