21 December 2008
On a recent Saturday in December, Midtown Museum District residents and businesses donated over 200 man-hours to help prepare materials for METRO Light Rail’s grand opening celebrations later on December 27.
Come check out some photos from that day over on our website, http://www.midtownmuseumdistrict.org/.
12 November 2008
At our October 22nd meeting we decided to join in the Light Rail Grand Opening party on Saturday December 27th by having an MMDNA booth. At this booth we will distribute a packet of flyers from those businesses that choose to participate. Please check out the Business Project section of the MMDNA website at http://b.midtownmuseumdistrict.org/ for more information.
Also included in the bag will be a map of our district with the museums, churches, hospitals, Light Rail stops and participating businesses plotted on the map. This map is being produced by two ASU students who will do it for their term project.
If you are a business that would like to participate we need to know by November 30th in order to get you on the map. We need your flyers or other items by December 12th. If you want to do this we are asking for $25 which will help pay our printing costs, the sign for our booth and food for the volunteers stuffing the bags.
For all residents and workers in our neighborhood, on December 13th we will have a grand stuffing party. We have 10,000 bags to assemble and it will be a BIG JOB. We will have breakfast, snacks and lunch available so please plan to join us for as much of the day as you can spare. We live in this area because of the amenities and services. Let’s support the restaurants and service close by.
If you are interested in helping out or want more information on this, send an e-mail to lightrail@midtownmuseumdistrict.org. Our next meeting will be Wednesday November 19th at the Radisson Hotel, 3600 N 2nd Avenue (just north of Osborn) from 6:30-8:30 pm.
Margaret Dietrich and Julia Tourville
Project Coordinators
25 October 2008
[source: azcentral.com] METRO Light Rail will expand testing across all 20 miles of the line – including in the Midtown Museum District Neighborhood Association – starting next week.
Until now, tests have been limited to the track south of McDowell Road, in downtown Phoenix, along Washington Street and through Tempe and Mesa.
Vehicles will now begin regular testing on Central Avenue. In addition, some trains will go all the way to the end of the line in Phoenix at 19th Avenue and Montebello.
Testing primarily occurs during the day; however, in coming weeks, testing will also take place at night to simulate service.
Expect a train anytime, from either direction, according to Hillary Foose, spokeswoman for METRO. She says testing will continue to ramp up and become more recurring in the weeks leading up to the system’s grand opening on Dec. 27.
Testing will become so regular, in fact, it will appear as though METRO is in service, she said.
Each train is required to travel 1,000 miles during testing before it can be placed into regular service. Testing also helps Metro coordinate the various systems needed for light rail to run.
With trains testing at such a regular pace, Metro offers these guidelines to staying safe around light rail:
So far, Metro has not had a serious accident. For more on how to ride and ways to be safe around light rail, visit www.metrolightrail.org.
Monday will mark 61 days to the grand opening of METRO on 27 December 2008. The Midtown Museum District is working with METRO Light Rail to help celebrate the festivities at our three METRO stations. Stay tuned to our blog, our Twitter feed, and our website for more information as it becomes available. If you want to be added to our e-mail list, click here and fill out the form (we will not share your information, we promise!).
Edward Jensen
Director of Communications and Internet Development
Midtown Museum District Neighborhood Association
14 October 2008
Since this morning, additional signals along Central Avenue have been activated. This includes some new stoplights for pedestrian crosswalks and left-turn arrows for traffic to turn across the light rail tracks.
Be careful with these new signals! We’re getting closer to METRO making its inaugural run up Central Avenue into the Midtown Museum District so watch for trains.
METRO opens in 74 days so let’s all be mindful that trains will now be in our streets.
Aren’t you excited? We certainly are!
13 October 2008
Today marks 75 days to the opening of Phoenix’s METRO Light Rail! Are you excited?
As part of the grand opening weekend (27-28 December), METRO is planning festivities along the entire 20-mile route. In cooperation with METRO Light Rail, the Midtown Museum District is working on ideas for celebrations at our three stations: Central Avenue at Encanto, Thomas, and Osborn.
In 75 days, the wait will be over and we’ll be riding this:
Cheers-
Edward Jensen
Director of Communications and Internet Development
The Midtown Museum District Neighborhood Association
1 August 2008
Come join the Midtown Museum District and Central United Methodist Church for an informational meeting on METRO Light Rail, due to open up 27 December 2008. (See the flier at METRO Meeting Flier, 11 August 2008.)
Central United Methodist Church is at 1875 N. Central Avenue (at Palm Lane). If you’re taking transit, take the Red Line, Blue Line, or Route 0 to Palm Lane. Parking is also available in the Palm Lane parking lot: follow signs to the church’s east entrance.
If you have any questions, or you would like to learn more about the new Midtown Museum District, please send an e-mail to midtownmuseumdistrict@gmail.com or call (602) 758-3129.
See you then!
The Midtown Museum District of Phoenix, Arizona 