Are you or do you know a great REALTOR who would be interested in helping us with Rail Life?  Many agents are looking to do more business online but don’t have the tools or experience. If that sounds like you, we REALLY want to talk to you. We have proven systems in place to help you build a real estate business and we have an amazing team of professionals who are here to help you succeed.

We need to get back on track adding more information about all of the awesome stuff along the light rail line in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. Ideally, this person would have a passion for the lifestyle and for helping people learn more about what is happening along the current and future light rail line in the Valley. We’re not just talking about real estate here, as that is not and will never be the only focus of my web site.

I’m looking for a bit of a geek, someone who knows or has an interest in knowing how to promote this lifestyle through our blog, our Facebook page, Twitter account and several other social channels. We’ve just begun, and there are SO many new and cool ways to tell this story.

For a long time, I was able to keep up with things happening along the line. New developments, businesses opening and closing, METRO updates and more. Now, I’m looking to take it up a notch and have some real fun with the site, but we’ll need some help. Maybe even a new writer or two in addition to a good real estate agent.

Can you think of someone we should talk to? Are you someone we should talk to? Please let me know!

Over the years, I’ve learned a thing or two about what it takes to build a brand, but I need some help because I’ve just not been able to keep up with my growing business and keep up with RailLife at the same time. In addition to helping with RailLife, we can use a great buyer’s agent ( or two ) for our sign calls, web leads, open house needs and a bunch of other stuff. No, this isn’t something where we are looking to hand off a bunch of stuff, we are looking for a REALTOR who is willing to work but to use our tools and systems to grow our team.

My office number is 602-803-6425 or email me at nick at nickbastian.com.

The post Looking For A REALTOR To Rock The Rail Life appeared first on Rail Life.

Most of us know that downtown Mesa has a lot of cool things happening. We are seeing a LOT of changes along the Mesa light rail corridor and there are more to come, for sure. BUT, the reality is, there’s still this misconception that “there’s nowhere to eat in downtown Mesa.”

So, if you want to find some good locally-owned places to eat, take a look at this map and give some of them a try.

Of course, you should also be following the fabulous Phoenix Rail Food blog, as well.

I thought it was a cool list, and I think you will, too!

I am sure this list will be updated from time to time as new places are added.

Thanks for the great info, David! Keep on rockin’ the Rail Life, my man…

Downtown Mesa is rockin!

The post Nowhere To Eat In Downtown Mesa appeared first on Rail Life.

Think about this… The Coyotes might be getting a shiny new home located at the northwest corner of McClintock and Rio Salado. This shiny new home will be between the shiny / newly renovated Sun Devil Stadium at Rio Salado and Rural and the “almost” new Cubs stadium just east of the 101 and Rio Salado.

Heck, even before the Coyotes announcement, there had been talks of wanting to extend the Streetcar line further down Rio Salado. One thing we can safely say is that the Streetcar line was extended to go east on Rio Salado from Mill Avenue to serve Sun Devil Stadium and the massive Marina Heights development. Right? Right.

We can also safely say that the traffic along Rio Salado is going to continue to get worse and worse. ASU’s Athletics Facilities District pretty much straddles Rio Salado from Rural to McClintock, and the Coyotes development could be a big catalyst to spur a lot more development along that roadway.  The Rio Salado intersections at Rural and at McClintock will need some real help when we start to see a LOT more traffic in this area. We know there will be a lot more than just one development deal made along this stretch of roadway. Karsten golf course is going away and we’ll see new jobs, new residents, more sports fans, etc. in ASU’s Athletic Facilities District. This is something the city, ASU and developers are very well aware of.

Cost of doing business?

One thing we learned when funding for the Streetcar system has been an issue in the past, is the fact that public / private partnerships can be created to help with some of the costs of building or maintaining the Streetcar. I’m no genius, but I would hope that we have people at the City, at ASU and in the development world who would take some time to see how a real people moving option can be extended along this stretch of Rio Salado. Heck, the businesses at Tempe Marketplace, the developers of the Cubs Stadium, ASU, the Coyotes, the owners of the multiple hotels being built on Rio Salado, etc. all benefit greatly from having more and more traffic in these areas. These same people might want to have a way to get people to and from the area efficiently. Sure, all of them may want to point the finger at the others and see if they can get “off the hook” for paying to build a system like that, but it just might take a village to get ‘er done.

We know it probably wouldn’t make $ense for the Coyotes to build a Streetcar by themselves, but one could reasonably say that the timing could be right for discussions like this to be taking place. Building shiny new arenas doesn’t happen overnight. Building transit systems certainly doesn’t happen overnight, either. Fixed transit systems have been proven to help with economic development. I’m pretty sure we’ll be seeing a decent amount of economic development along Rio Salado…

The post Could Coyotes Help Expand Tempe Streetcar? appeared first on Rail Life.

This should be good news for transit fans as Scott seems like he’s been doing good things in his current role. He’s also got some great experience with our entire system.

While the press release ( below ) that went out today says details are still being finalized, you can bet your last transit dollar that his expense account will have a few more checks and balances than what Banta had…

Big congrats to Mr. Smith, to Valley Metro and to transit fans here in the valley!

Scott Smith to Continue as Valley Metro CEO

Serving as interim since February, Boards of Directors identify Smith as most qualified

PHOENIX, AZ – Today, the Valley Metro RPTA and Valley Metro Rail Boards of Directors took action to finalize an employment agreement with Scott Smith that will transition his service to CEO.

Smith, former Mayor of Mesa, has been Valley Metro’s Interim CEO since February 1, 2016. He will continue to guide the region’s transit system responsible for building and operating light rail, regional bus, Dial-a-Ride and vanpool. The system has nearly $2 billion in assets and an annual budget of nearly $500 million.

“Scott Smith has been extremely responsive to the Boards, implementing critical changes and refocusing Valley Metro with a refreshing level of professionalism, accountability and integrity,” said Valley Metro RPTA Board Chair and Phoenix Councilmember Thelda Williams. “During his time here, we have experienced the value of his combined public and private sector leadership experiences and determined they are a perfect fit for this vital public agency and its future.”

“Scott has done a remarkable job leading Valley Metro over the past nine months during a very challenging period for the organization,” said Valley Metro Rail Board Chair and Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell. “We are grateful he has accepted our offer to continue leading the agency.”

Smith, an Arizona native and Mayor of Mesa from 2008 to 2014, has been a private sector CEO, attorney and certified public accountant. As mayor, Smith reduced government spending, balanced the budget and slimmed the workforce by 10 percent, making city government leaner, more efficient and more accountable. Recently, Smith served as a Resident Fellow in the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Valley Metro recruited Smith to be the Interim CEO in early 2016.

“I’m honored and excited to lead Valley Metro into the future,” Smith said. “I am passionate about transit because of its power to connect people to their lives and create economic opportunity. I have enjoyed meeting the demands of our Boards and working with a talented Valley Metro staff over the past several months, and look forward to meeting the daily challenges planning, building and operating a world-class transit system.”

Following a nationwide search, the Boards of Directors have offered Smith the CEO position for a period of two years. Salary and other contract details are being finalized.

The post Scott Smith Remaining as Valley Metro CEO appeared first on Rail Life.

Basically, this is the first of many steps that says he is going to stand up to his former employer and sue them for wrongful termination.

This has been a heck of a story to follow. If you remember back to about November of last year, we started hearing some pretty juicy details about Steve Banta resigning from his high paying gig at the helm of Valley Metro. At first, it was just time for him to find a new position. He had enjoyed his time in Arizona but was ready for a new challenge. Soon after that, things got testy. We started hearing that there might be more to the story. Since then, there have been many accusations, a ton of fingers pointed and a bunch of lawyers and bureaucrats talking about financial missteps within our transit authority. Instead of Banta deciding to leave, he was booted out the door and has been accused of some pretty shady stuff by many of the people who had been raving fans of his. My, how times can quickly change…

The stories have all kinds of interesting tidbits of information and countless examples of he said – she said. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of funds in question for fancy meals, swanky hotels, some booze and someone who was on a mission to rack up some serious frequent flier miles on our dime.

This train wreck just keeps getting worse. https://t.co/wiF9h6GXfi Banta in some hot water. #RailLife

— RailLife (@RailLife) April 29, 2016

Former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith has been tapped as the interim CEO to replace Banta. Mr. Smith tells us that many new changes have been made to make sure one person can not have so much power in the head honcho position anymore. More oversight, more checks and balances, more reviewing of travel expenses, etc. Basically, it sounds like a lot of the high flying super cool CEO stuff is being reigned in a bit. I imagine the CEO spot still has some perks, and the pay still doesn’t exactly suck, but the microscope has been enhanced a bit.

This impending $1.65 million lawsuit should bring out even more juicy details. There will be more discussion of a supposed back-room deal by Mayor Stanton’s office that was going to allow Steve to stay on as a consultant. There will be more details about this $272,956 annuity that he feels he is owed. There will be more talk about a severance pay claim where Banta seeks $264,493 from his employer for kicking him to the curb before he thought it was time to go.

I’m pretty sure we’ll have more details soon. Grab some popcorn, this one is getting good.

The post Banta Lawyers Up – Sues Valley Metro for $1.65 Million appeared first on Rail Life.

1. light rail clearly kills businesses
2. light rail is a crime infested cesspool and is a sure-fire way to kill off any chance of future economic development along a chosen train route.
3. “I would never vote for that because it would be a death sentence to our existing businesses.”

I have seen some other brilliant arguments against light rail, but I was reminded me of those 3 this morning when I read this super-smart Tweet.

https://twitter.com/GphillipsGuy/status/720106225267011585

Can anyone tell me what a lite rail is? Better yet, can anyone tell Mr. Phillips about economic activity? About redevelopment? How about tourism? I am pretty sure that the hallowed halls of Snottsdale have tourists who could jump on a train at the airport and head up Scottsdale Road to their hotel where they can enjoy their first of many $20 cocktails. Potential light rail stops could have included Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale Stadium, SkySong, the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden. Nope, no reason to have convenient access to those places for locals or tourists. Right?

As AZ Central reported, the City of Scottsdale has killed potential light rail routes at a recent meeting. There’s some super brilliant quotes from the article, too. How about:

1. “To think about spending this kind of money, for this kind of use … I think it would be foolish to even put it in play in our master plan,”
2. “I think it actually shows a little courage on behalf of our city, this council and our merchants and business owners. … We can do better than light rail.”

Not everyone in Scottsdale is opposed to light rail, but their leadership appears to have taken away the bulk of the opportunities for people to have reasonable discussions about transit in the city.

In some weird way, it is kind of interesting to watch the train wreck that is light rail opposition in Scottsdale… Especially at a time when many other cities are clamoring to expand their rail service.

The post Scottsdale Continues To Show “Lite Rail” Ignorance appeared first on Rail Life.

Make no mistake, this timing isn’t coincidental. It is directly related to Mesa’s commitment to a thriving transit corridor along Main Street.

Our friend David Crummey was quoted as saying:

“New quality rental housing is an important component of a comprehensive revitalization of our community.”
“We think a project like this will push the rent curve in the area.”

David is with RAILmesa – a community group that exists to be a positive voice for the light rail corridor in Mesa. They are advocates for increased citizen participation, responsible development of housing, transit options and the creation of quality jobs along Mesa’s Light Rail Corridor.

Downtown Mesa

Many people and organizations have been advocating for positive growth and development in the area, and it isn’t too surprising to see that real and positive change is happening along the line.

In an AZ Central article about the proposed new $42Million development, we read that:

City planners in November said the corner’s proximity to the Country Club light-rail station make it an excellent candidate for ground-floor retail and commercial uses, with commercial or residential uses on upper floors.

For many of us who have been following the Downtown Mesa extension for years, this kind of potential development really isn’t a surprise. For others, they may wonder if there is really enough demand for something of this scale on a largely vacant or underutilized portion of Mesa’s downtown. Obviousy, time will tell, but if you listen closely, you’ll hear a lot of chatter about the need for more and quality housing in the area.

The post Downtown Mesa Sees Light From Rail appeared first on Rail Life.

March 19th, 2016 is the day we have been waiting for. Join us Saturday morning for this historic event! There will be free rides, free commemorative passes, free WiFi and freedom to have an awesome day. This is the very first extension of the light rail line in Phoenix and you don’t want to miss out! Here’s the scoop directly from Metro:

What:              Northwest Phoenix Light Rail Extension Opening Celebration

 Who:               Valley Metro, city of Phoenix and Sundt/Stacy Witbeck Joint Venture

Where:            19th Avenue & Dunlap Park-and-Ride, Phoenix

When:             Saturday, March 19th 9 a.m. – noon; remarks begin at 9 a.m.

Where:            19th Avenue & Dunlap Park-and-Ride

Why:               Be one of the first to ride light rail on the new extension with a free commemorative pass*, enjoy a 19th Avenue community expo, free family-fun activities, food and entertainment

 Remarks:        Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton

Councilmember Daniel Valenzuela

Valley Metro Rail Board Chair and Councilmember Thelda Williams

Vice Mayor Kate Gallego

Sundt CEO Dave Crawford

Stacy and Witbeck CEO George Furnanz

Light rail service on the new extension begins at 10 a.m on March 19. With the new service and the addition of three new stations, there will be schedule adjustments. Check here for accurate, up-to-date schedule information.

*All-Day commemorative passes will be distributed 10 a.m. to noon from the 19th Avenue stations at Montebello, Glendale, Northern and Dunlap avenues. Passes are valid on March 19 only and will be distributed while supplies last.

In celebration of the opening, Cox is providing free WiFi throughout the Phoenix Metro area on March 18 – March 20.

The post Northwest Phoenix Light Rail Opening! appeared first on Rail Life.

Coach Hurley has been working hard and gaining fans for the basketball program so it seems fitting to have this “Get out of work Hurly” party. Maybe it will become a long standing tradition for Sun Devil fans?!?!

Here’s the scoop from an email we got from ASU:

We’re excited for you to join Sun Devil Men’s Basketball this weekend when the Sun Devils face their Pac-12 South foes from Southern California on Friday night!

The fun begins with Hurley’s Happy Hour, presented by Coors Light, from 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m. before the game against USC, presented by APS, tips off at 6:00 p.m.!

Coach Bobby Hurley will stop by around 5:00 p.m., so make plans to leave work “Hurley” and enjoy the amazing Tempe weather, live entertainment, cash bar and the company of former Sun Devil Men’s Basketball players and other Sun Devil fans!

Hurley’s Happy Hour takes place in the Sun Devil Club Arboretum, located just north of Wells Fargo Arena and entry is FREE with a USC game ticket! Use this get out of work early letter from Coach and be there, be loud and wear GOLD!

How much more romantic can you get than to kick off a Valentine’s Day weekend with some super-cool Sun Devil fans at a Hurley Happy Hour? I hope to see you there!

Go Devils!

The post Hurley Happy Hour – Great Excuse For Some Sun Devil Fun appeared first on Rail Life.

Here’s a press release we saw from the City of Tempe.

Tempe Streetcar reaches a significant funding milestone with $75 million included as a recommendation in President Obama’s budget for Fiscal Year 2017. Congress must ultimately approve any federal funding as part of the appropriations process in the coming months.

“The Tempe Streetcar is an essential part of building our transit system into one that will serve future growth and spur revitalization and job growth,” said Tempe Mayor and Valley Metro Rail Board Vice Chair Mark Mitchell.  “Being included in the President’s budget shows we have a strong project with community and regional support.  We would like to thank the Federal Transit Administration for their continued support, and we’re excited to work with Congress in order to make sure this important investment is funded.”

Tempe Streetcar is a $177 million capital investment that will travel on Rio Salado Parkway from the Marina Heights development west to Mill Avenue. It will make a downtown loop on Mill and Ash avenues and continue south to Apache Boulevard. It will then turn east to Dorsey Lane, connecting with the Apache/Dorsey light rail station. The project will increase circulation in central Tempe and beyond with its connections to the larger Valley Metro system. It will also spur further development of the downtown core and provide connection to strong neighborhoods, major employers and downtown activities.

“Having a streetcar system that connects to the regional rail system will benefit our entire downtown Tempe community,” said Kate Borders Downtown Tempe Authority Executive Director. “This is an exciting step forward, ensuring that this investment will generate added appeal as a vibrant destination for all ages.”

Next steps include competitive procurements for streetcar vehicles and design, construction and artist contractors. Construction will initiate in 2017 and opening scheduled for 2019. Community outreach will continue throughout each phase, including extensive business outreach and programming.

Congrats to the City of Tempe and to all of the people who have worked so hard over the years to make this happen. People like Shana Ellis and others have been instrumental in getting and keeping the ball rolling to get this grant for Tempe Streetcar. The downtown area seems like a good fit for this project, and we know it has taken a lot of effort to make sure all of these pieces align to make it happen.

The post Presidents Budget Includes $75 Million Grant for Tempe Streetcar appeared first on Rail Life.