Work on bus link to light rail delayed

Work on portions of a new south East Valley bus link to light rail will be delayed until after the holiday shopping season to protect local businesses at the request of Mesa and Chandler, Valley Metro officials said Thursday.

Also, Chandler officials say they are close to a deal to buy and demolish three homes northeast of Chandler Boulevard and Arizona Avenue to make way for the new bus route, which will run from the Tumbleweed Park & Ride at Germann Road and Hamilton Street in south Chandler, up Arizona Avenue/Country Club Drive to Main Street in Mesa, then turn west and run to Sycamore Station, the easternmost terminus of the light-rail system.

Erich Kuntze, a Chandler real estate manager, said a deal to buy the homes is expected in the next couple of weeks, and the final price likely will be lower than previously expected.

"Real estate prices have come down," Kuntze said.

In addition to the homes, Chandler also is working to acquire portions of 15 commercial properties along the route. Valley Metro has agreed to reimburse the city up to $940,000 for land acquisition costs.

All told, the 12-mile route is expected to include about 20 stops in Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler. Construction is scheduled to wrap up in July 2010.

Ratna Korepella, a Valley Metro transportation planner, said construction is slated to begin Nov. 12. However, work on segments that could affect local businesses will be delayed until January, she said.

"Chandler and Mesa don't want construction during the holiday season," Korepella said.

The total cost for design, land acquisition and construction is expected to run about $12.5 million, paid out of a $15 million pot of federal stimulus funds, she said.

Jim Phipps, a Chandler spokesman, said the city wants to protect local businesses, especially during the ongoing economic downturn.

"You don't want to add to the burden that businesses already have," Phipps said.

Kuntze said construction could skip over the three homes that are due to be demolished until negotiations to buy them are complete. Kuntze said Chandler will help the occupants, who are all renters, with relocation costs.

The 10,000-square-foot residential property contains a detached home and a duplex. The homes are ramshackle, and are situated in a predominantly commercial strip across from the Chandler Center for the Arts on the way into the downtown. An existing bus bay already cuts into the front of the property. The bus stop will be expanded for the new route, leaving the property without a connection to Arizona Avenue.

The new route would be the East Valley's second rapid transit bus line connecting to light rail. An existing route travels along Main Street through Mesa and connects to the same light-rail station.