My mother with 3 of my kids at rail opening

It is finally here, after years of planning and $1.3 billion, the METRO light rail has finally hit Phoenix and the Valley.

I am one of the few from Mesa who this will benefit. Living in west Mesa I am only a couple of miles from the furthest east stop on the rail, which is Main and Sycamore. Mesa could have really benefited from the light rail if it had gone into east Mesa. East Mesa to downtown Phoenix can be a a tough commute and the light rail could have greatly benefited those who wanted to work in the city, but wanted to live in a more rural area like east Mesa. Downtown Mesa also could have benefited from an expanded rail. With the museums the city has invested so heavily in, Mesa could have used another easy way to get commuters to their hidden treasures.

There is plans to expand the METRO in the coming years and hopefully central and east Mesa will be included in those plans. Until then we will have to just deal with what we have, which is a new clean, quick and convenient way to get to Tempe and downtown Phoenix.

I was one of the estimated 150,000 who braved the chilly (for Central AZ) weather on Saturday to take a crowded ride on the rail. I was happy with what I saw and look forward to using it to get to ASU games, Diamondback games and to Central Phoenix. I know not everyone is thrilled with the METRO project, but I hope the nay-sayers give it a chance before they give up to easily.