The regional director of the FTA got a roar of approval from officials and the station artist in the podium area and from those guests gathered under the tent when he announced that the funding for the expansion of the light rail system to Gilbert Road has been approved, the next section for advancing the planned seven light rail extensions that are planned or under construction that will create the 60-mile regional transport system by 2034.
Mesa City Major John Giles, at right of center with Vice-Mayor Kavanaugh, is flashing the commemorative pin for this milestone event.
Station artist Mary Lucking can be seen on the right side.
Thanks go to Corinne Holliday in Valley Metro's Public Information Office, as well as to Rob Antoniak who's the Director of Community Outreach.
Other media were there from Mesa' own local television Channel 11, as well as Channel 5 and Channel 12 from Phoenix
Reporting on this same event from Arizona Republic
Mesa mayor: Rail extension will revive downtown
Maria Polletta, The Republic | azcentral.com "As officials and residents gathered to celebrate progress on the city's 3.1-mile central Mesa light-rail extension Monday, Mesa Mayor John Giles said he believes prosperity will come to downtown with the train when the extension opens this fall . . .
"At City Hall, the phone is ringing off the hook with smart, intelligent, seasoned real-estate developers that are lining up to be a part of what's happening in downtown Mesa right now," he said.
Vice Mayor Dennis Kavanaugh is quoted as saying: "I'm so pleased that my council colleagues at that time had the foresight and courage, along with other Valley leaders, to move ahead," he said.
Giles, who served alongside Kavanaugh in those days, echoed his comments.
"Since that time, we've seen people change. We've seen what they want change," he said. "Millennials, seniors, everybody — this is what they want. They don't want more parking lots."
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