Valley Metro in Phoenix opened the Superstition Springs Transit Center in Mesa, AZ—the first construction project in the agency’s 23-year history—with ribbon-cutting ceremonies Nov. 5. The new facility provides access to five regular bus routes and LINK, Valley Metro’s Bus Rapid Transit service, with six bus bays and 80 new parking spaces.

Speakers at the program included Mesa City Manager Chris Brady; Scottsdale Councilmember and Valley Metro Chair Wayne Ecton; Westcor Senior Manager Steve Wood; and Mesa Councilmember Scott Somers. Westcor, a developer of malls and shopping areas, is a major partner in the Superstition Springs project, along with Valley Metro RPTA and the city of Mesa.

Valley Metro designed the $2.3 million transit center to incorporate a natural style of public art in a comfortable setting for passengers; artist William Barnhart developed the art elements of the facility with a goal of connecting sustainability and transit, including artistic fencing that incorporates such elements as rusty steel, stone, and rock; art box panels to showcase work by local schoolchildren; and benches, trash receptacles, and tree grates with an integrated design that coordinates with the shelter structure and fencing.

Green elements include a living roof that contains native, low-water plants and provides a cooling effect to the shelter below, and trees placed in areas to provide shelter and shade from the sun as it sets in the west.

Also on Nov. 5, Valley Metro introduced 13 of the 26 LINK stations between Alma School/Main and Baywood/Power to service. The stations provide maximum shade, real-time messaging that announces the next bus arrival time, and raised platforms (at some sites) to help ease boarding.

The LINK station at the Mesa Arts Center features artwork by Laurie Lundquist that integrates the design of the arts center. Dangling mirror-coated raindrops hang from the ceiling to create a dynamic feature of movement and sound, allowing passengers literally to see themselves in transit.

Cutting the ribbon at the Superstition Springs Transit Center are, from left, David Boggs, Valley Metro executive director; Steve Wood, Westcor senior manager; Scott Somers, Mesa Councilmember; Wayne Ecton, Scottsdale Councilmember and Valley Metro chair; Chris Brady, Mesa city manager; and facility artist Bill Barnhart with grandson Walter Rogers.

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