Phoenix Arizona

AWARD WINNING TEMPE FACILITY CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING by azhttp

TEMPE (October 11, 2007) – Please join us as we celebrate the

newest and “greenest” facility in the Valley Metro transit system.

The public is invited to view and tour the East Valley Bus Operations and

Maintenance Facility at 2050 W. Rio Salado Parkway and understand more about

what makes a building environmentally friendly at the grand opening on

October 22.

The event begins at 9 a.m. with a breakfast and facility tours

to follow at 10:30 a.m. Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman and Scottsdale Mayor Mary

Manross will make remarks about the features of the facility at 9:30 a.m.

The facility was recently awarded the Valley Forward Association Award of

Merit for Buildings and Structures because of its innovative use of recycled

materials and use of local resources.

“In Tempe, we are working to create an economically, culturally

and environmentally sustainable community,” said Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman.

“This new facility is a tangible representation of that commitment and of

our ability to work together to make that sustainable vision a reality.”

The cities of Tempe and Scottsdale, along with Valley Metro,

will be celebrating this new facility that contains sustainable elements

that help to protect and conserve the Earth’s natural resources. Tempe and

Scottsdale are actively supporting Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design (LEED) certified buildings in their communities.

Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross said, “I am particularly proud

that Scottsdale and Tempe have supported a goal of LEED certification, and

with a Gold certification submittal for the facility’s administration

building it proves outstanding dedication to this effort.”

The new facility will provide and enhance future transportation

services in the Valley. The 24-acre facility will house 250 buses and 600

employees and include more than 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art

maintenance, fueling, bus wash and administrative “green” space. The

administration office will be submitted for LEED Gold certification and the

remainder of the project will be submitted for LEED Silver certification by

the U.S. Green Building Council.

Funding for the facility is a combination of Proposition 400

public transportation funds, local funds from Tempe and Scottsdale, and

federal funds. The event is free to the public.

Valley Metro/RPTA is an organization of 14 local governments

that provides or funds transit services to citizens in the greater Phoenix

metropolitan and surrounding areas. For more information about Valley Metro

public transit services, call Transit Information at (602) 253-5000; for

callers with TTY (602) 261-8208; or visit the Valley Metro website at

www.ValleyMetro.org <http://www.valleymetro.org/> . The ON THE MOVE logo

designates those transportation projects approved by voters in November

2004.