[IMAGE]ValleymetroRibboncutting-of-Route-184-2.jpg[/IMAGE]Last week, Phoenix-based Valley Metro (Metro) rolled out two new bus routes.

Route 184, Power Road, travels from Mesa Community College to the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, providing the first ever service south of Superstition Springs Transit Center. Power Road is the home of many medical facilities, college campuses, businesses and shopping areas. Also located along the route is House of Refuge, a transitional facility for homeless families currently in work programs and needing transportation to get to work and daycare.

[IMAGE]ValleyMetroAriz-Ave-LINK-Ribboncutting-1-19-11-2.jpg[/IMAGE] The newest addition to the LINK Bus Rapid Transit System also began running last week, with the start-up of the Arizona Avenue & Country Club Drive LINK bus route. The route offers the first ever direct connection to Metro light rail at the Sycamore Station from Chandler and Gilbert. The route features 20 new stations constructed with ARRA funds.

Both routes are operated using Proposition 400 funds, the one-half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2004 to fund regional transportation projects in metro Phoenix. Events to celebrate each new service featured the band What Laura Says, who wrote and performed the song “How to Ride the Bus” as a part of the Valley Metro Notes Campaign.