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Each month we are featuring one of our 2021 WTS Metropolitan Phoenix Awards recipients. This month we are spotlighting Innovative Transportation Solutions Project, Valley Metro's Gilbert Road Light Rail Extension Project.  A 1.9-mile extension of light rail transit on Main Street from Mesa Drive to Gilbert Road in Mesa, this extension is attracting new riders and has increased development opportunities near downtown Mesa.

We talked with the project team about why this project is important for connecting the Valley's communities.

How is this project improving access to transportation in our region?

The Gilbert Road Light Rail Extension brings light rail on Main Street from Mesa Drive to Gilbert Road in Mesa. At Gilbert Road, there are significant transit connections and the ability to serve the growing transit demand in the East Valley. This extension has attracted new riders and increased development opportunities in central Mesa.

What lessons did the project team learn from incorporating innovative design elements?

The four-way roundabout with pedestrian crossings and center running light rail replaced the existing signalized intersection at Main Street and Horne. While there are other US locations where rail and roundabouts share the same space, this is the first four-way roundabout intersection that accommodates light rail, passenger vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic. The modern roundabout also accommodates busses, large transport vehicles, recreational vehicles, and trailers. The Main Street/Horne roundabout design has taken these larger vehicle turning movements into account; there are truck aprons at each intersecting street to allow for a greater turning radius. The design and implementation of the roundabout had its fair share of obstacles to overcome. First was the acceptance of the design by the local community and stakeholders. Safety being the highest priority, this required extensive field testing and review of critical safety elements prior to start-up. Finally, there was a public education component for the community including a video that was produced specifically highlighting pedestrian, vehicle, and rail interaction with the roundabout.  The successful opening of the extension with the new roundabout feature would not have happened without the expertise of the project teams in the areas of systems integration testing, safety and security certification, and close cooperation during the late phases of the project.

The project team (Valley Metro, City of Mesa and Stacy-Witbeck Sundt) worked collaboratively to think outside of the box to minimize impact to traffic and businesses.  This included night time closure work and expediting work on weekend road closures.

What role(s) did women play on the project and how did they contribute to its successful completion?

The team had many incredible women who contributed to the success of the project.

• Jodi Sorrell- Transit Services Director (City of Mesa) lead the City of Mesa’s effort on the project from planning through construction and revenue service including funding, public outreach, and coordination with elected officials.
• Jennifer Donaldson - Construction Project Manager (Stacy Witbeck) lead the construction team
• Adrian Ruiz – Director of Safety and Security (Valley Metro) lead the safety coordination between SSO and project team to ensure acceptance of the project and safety for our riders.
• Debby Thacker – Assistant Manager Operations (Valley Metro) supported the rail activation phase as the project completed construction and LRV were being tested.
• Vanessa Quinto – Lead Engineer (Jacobs) lead the engineering process during design and was the main point of contract during the construction phase including support for RFI’s, construction submittals, site visits and observation.  provided critical DSDC
• Crystal Lewis – Administrative Assistant II (Valley Metro) supported the construction management team with processing of construction submittals, meeting minutes, meeting coordination, etc.
• Kelly Warrick – Administrative Assistant II (PGH Wong) supported the construction management team with processing of construction submittals, meeting minutes, meeting coordination, etc.
• Kim Fallbeck- Real Estate Services Administrator (City of Mesa) Kim oversaw the real estate acquisition for over 100 impacted land parcels on the project.
• Shawna Boren – Project Assistant (PGH Wong) Lead the documentation effort for the Safety Certification Verification process ensuring all elements had been verified.
• Cheranda Walter – QC Clerk (Stacy Witbeck) was responsible for gather and submitting to the agency quality related documentation for the project.
• Andrea Crowe – Transit Safety Manager (Valley Metro)- Lead the effort for Valley Metro to ensure that the Contractor was follow Valley Metro’s safety requirements.
• Debra Boehlke- Business Assistance Coordinator (HDR) worked with Business along the alignment to keep them informed about construction and worked to shared with them Valley Metro’s available business assistance programs during construction.

What advice and suggestions would you have for other project teams considering innovation in their projects?

Get buy in from the community and stakeholders early and don’t let the “it’s never been done before” mentality hinder the project goals.  Unique and innovative ideas are often met with resistance simply due to the fact that it is different. Since the GRE project, roundabouts have now been implemented on other Valley Metro rail projects including Tempe Streetcar and the South Central/Downtown Hub Light Rail Extension.