Festivities planned for start of E.V. light rail

Light rail's arrival in the Valley is still a long way down the tracks, but coming into view are the festivities surrounding the scheduled December grand opening.

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Among the events planned by Metro is a gala dinner featuring VIPs, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, simultaneous celebrations when the system opens and an entire weekend, Dec. 27-28, when riding the rails will be free of charge.

The 20-mile line is expected to begin revenue service on Dec.29.

About 250,000 people are expected to participate in the celebrations, Metro spokeswoman Hillary Foose said. Metro is estimating 26,000 daily boardings in the first year of operations.

Foose gave an update on the events Monday to the Public Involvement/Marketing Committee of the Tempe Transportation Commission.

Metro is currently conducting tests along the line. The first trains began rolling into Tempe and Mesa last month.

According to Foose, the celebrations will begin the day after Christmas -Dec. 26. That day, there will be a media preview with reporters, photographers and camera crews riding the last test train.

That night, a celebratory dinner will be held at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown. Among the dignitaries invited is U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters, Foose said. The dinner will be one of the first major events at the Sheraton, which is slated to open in October.

On the morning of Dec. 27, the fun moves to Metro's Operations and Maintenance Center in east Phoenix, where the ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place. Afterward, trains will be dispatched to Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.

Five or six major parties are planned, Foose said, and there will be activities at all 28 stations.