SE Valley Times

Surrounded by the seven brightly illuminated screens of Arizona State University’s Decision Theater drum, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff joined Arizona officials and ASU community members on July 19 to celebrate a crucial federal investment into sustainable public transportation in the East Valley.

The event focused on a recent $15.9 million federal grant to Valley Metro that will support exploring the expansion of the Tempe streetcar into Mesa. The funding will advance Valley Metro’s Rio East-Dobson Streetcar Extension (REDE) Study into the engineering and environmental phases, benefiting East Valley residents and ASU community members alike.

“Our advocacy of transit has brought jobs, businesses, and investment to our city,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods. “Our streetcar route has been very attractive to developers of all kinds, especially those who want to provide student and workforce housing.”

Emhoff highlighted Maricopa County's lag in infrastructure development and emphasized the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to supporting communities through Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants. “The cities of Tempe and Mesa are experiencing rapid growth and rapid urbanization,” Emhoff said. “This has led to increased traffic congestion, pollution, residential areas, and lack of transportation access to supermarkets, jobs, and health care clinics.”

“President Biden and Vice President Harris understand how important it is for everyone to have access to reliable public transportation,” he added.

During his visit on July 19, Emhoff conversed with Valley Metro CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller and Tempe Mayor Corey Woods on a streetcar. Expanding transportation options in the ASU community was also discussed at Decision Theater. According to data from the city of Tempe, younger people are primary users of the streetcar: Sixty-two percent of ridership is under 25, with 75% currently in college.

Bhishma Rakeshbhai Dave, a recent ASU graduate, praised the streetcar as a convenient mode of transportation for students like himself. “It has all been a great experience to use the streetcar here, and I know it is going to be in Mesa as well,” Dave said.

The proposed expansion would connect riders to more destinations such as ASU’s Novus Innovation Corridor, Tempe Marketplace, Mesa Riverview shopping center, Sloan Park—home to the Chicago Cubs during spring training—and Mesa’s Asian District.

Valley Metro's REDE Study continuously engages community members for feedback and aims for an effective operation along the expanded route. A final recommendation will be submitted by 2025.

Ray Tellis from the Federal Transportation Administration's Region IX emphasized that expanding public transportation provides valuable amenities while reducing fuel dependency. “Public transportation is what levels the playing field,” he said. “Like all transit projects, it's also going to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Mesa Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia noted that continuing Valley Metro’s expansion study benefits Mesa residents significantly. “The streetcar is a key piece of the Valley's growing regional transportation network," Heredia said. "Our area has seen significant population growth in recent decades; by expanding our transportation network we support continued growth."