Its finally happened: At the cost of a measly billion bucks and change, Phoenix has grown-up, state-of-the-art public transportation the kind with public art at its stops and those funny little seats that disappear when youre not sitting on them. Weve got light rail, and no one, least of all those responsible, is going to let the event pass without an extended weekends worth of hoo-ha and merrymaking.
The METRO Light Rail Grand Opening ribbon-cutting ceremony will kick off a weekend of celebrations at all of METROs current stops from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m., with live music and attending celebrities both local and national. (Other big related shindigs include the one at the lines current eastern terminus in Mesa see www.mesaaz.gov/lightrailgrandopening and at the new Tempe Transportation Center see www.tempe.gov/DestinationTempe/dtcelebration.htm.)
Curious folks who arent big on parties can explore light rail with less revelry on Sunday the 28th, stopping to inspect each of the stations gorgeous art displays and maybe even checking out the recently completed Phoenix Convention Center, which will throw open its newly painted doors to display all 900,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.
Sat., Dec. 27, 2008