Arturo Rosales doesn’t like to drive, but he figured it was worth getting in his car to get the first look at the Valley’s newest transit system.
Rosales joined about 300 others who viewed a full-scale mock-up of the Metro lightrail vehicle Thursday. It was supposed to be an invitationonly event before tours
officially open to the public today. But Rosales and many others were too eager to see the most prominent part of the Metro system that’s now under construction.
He sees Metro as another way to get to work on high pollution days, when smog irritates his eyes as he rides his bicycle. And he sees a chance to have more fun by making more trips to downtown Tempe.
"I hardly ever go to Tempe, but I’ll go there with this," said Rosales, who lives in Phoenix near Spectrum Mall.
Metro officials unveiled the mock-up to mostly dignitaries Thursday, showing off a vehicle that will go on tour in Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe in the next two months.
The mock-up was built so rail officials could refine the design before they order an entire fleet. Transit authorities also are using it so the public has a better feel for the $1.3 billion system that’s supposed to start in December 2008.
Tour of the Metro mock-up vehicle
Park Central in Phoenix: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Saturday and Nov. 19
Downtown Mesa, Main and Center streets: 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 and 10
Tempe Beach Park: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 17; 7 a.m. to noon Dec. 18; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan 7 and 14; 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 15; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 21
