VALLEY METRO CHALLENGE

Maya Johnson
Oct 28
5 min read

If you’ve kept up with me via the Rambutan Roundup, you’re probably aware that I used to live in NYC. If not, well, I have a fun fact for you!

Now, the MTA is a wholly unique transit system that cannot be found anywhere else in the USA. Its success is based on walkability. Here in Phoenix, Arizona, and surrounding suburbs, we have the Valley Metro System. Is it a great transportation system? No! Does it service a large portion of the Phoenix metropolitan area? No! Could we call it the backbone of Phoenix? Absolutely not!

But it’s what we’ve got.

Version of the Valley Metro Map as if it was the MTA. Calcagno Maps.

I am sure you’ve also seen photos of those hilariously large and red Hop on Hop off buses in cities like London or Paris. Hopefully you can put two and two together and see where I’m going with this. Phoenix (and Arizona in general) is generally car dominated, but there’s a few walkable pockets left hanging around. We might as well enjoy them while we have them.

The Valley Metro Light Rail runs through the heart of the Phoenix metro area, connecting Downtown Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. Trains come every 10 to 20 minutes, along a main route that links major spots like Roosevelt Row, ASU, and Mesa’s Main Street. To pay, you’ll need the Valley Metro app, where you can add money to your pass to tap into the train station. Some stations have ticketing machines, but they’re slowly being phased out (literally none of them work).

If you have a full day to do nothing but light rail around, start at 19th ave/Dunlap -> Mesa. This has the largest park n’ ride lot on the line. I’ll divide by neighborhood and topic so you can choose your own adventure.

Encanto & Midtown

There’s a quiet but shy demeanor around these parts. And a hint of a gay vibe. Parts of Central Avenue make you think Phoenix could possibly be walkable, and other parts make you realize just how little money you’re raking in. Land acknowledgements galore (for good reason).

Food & Drink:

Stop: Central & Highland Ave →

JL Patisserie - of recent TikTok drama with Glamorama please read it…
Changing Hands Bookstore café

Art & Culture

Stop: Encanto/Central Ave →

Nature

Stop: Indian School/Central Ave →

Steele Indian School Park

Weird

Stop: Campbell/Central Ave ->

Curious Nature (oddities + taxidermy shop)

DT PHX

This is the reason why people always forget Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the US. It’s small and unassuming, and the buildings and streets are as close as they’ll ever get in Arizona (not even that close). Many redeemable qualities, but none of them cheap.

Food & Drink:

Stop: Roosevelt/Central Ave →

Songbird Coffee & Tea House
The Churchill - today at work my coworker’s dog came on camera and she said, “No Winston!” Of course I asked if he was named after Winston Churchill. He was not. He was named after Winston from New Girl.
Central Records - biased! My old roommate hosts a mahjong club here.
Huarachi’s

Stop: Van Buren/Central Ave →

Ziggy’s Magic Pizza Shop - fun fact! The business fraternity I was a brother of was banned from Stardust, the connected arcade bar. I assume we’re also banned here.
Cornish Pasty Co

Art & Culture

Stop: Mcdowell/Central Ave →

Burton Barr Central Library - Phoenix Public Library put me on their IG story so I have to put it here. That and I love saving money and reading books.
AZ Opera - check out Bold program for <40 yr olds. Go to opera for cheap.

Stop: Roosevelt/Central Ave →

Roosevelt Row murals
Modified Arts - current exhibit by Katherine del Rosario
Eye Lounge
the Nash

Stop: Van Buren/1st Ave →

Heritage Square

Nature

Stop: Roosevelt/Central Ave →

Japanese Friendship Garden (tranquil asf)

Weird

Stop: Roosevelt/Central Ave →

Hanny’s (basement) (dolls)

Tempe

Huge college town, where no establishment has truly stood the test of time. Forks up, y’all.

Food & Drink:

Stop: Veterans Way/College Ave →

Chuckbox (cash only)

Stop: Dorsey Ln/Apache Blvd →

Khai Hoan Restaurant - always got hungover pho here. Better than fresh alley!!!
Haji Baba - cheap. good. off social media, so obviously very trustworthy.

Art & Culture

Stop: Veterans Way/College Ave →

ASU Art Museum
Gammage Auditorium (Frank Lloyd Wright–designed theater. Just to look at.)

Nature

Stop: Priest Dr/Washington St →

Papago Park

Stop: Veterans Way/College Ave →

Tempe Town Lake

Weird

Stop: Veterans Way/College Ave →

Casey Moore’s Oyster House - just kind of an odd vibe to this place.

Mesa

Asiantown, USA. Also home to my favorite childhood museum. Better than Gilbert!

Food & Drink:

Stop: Sycamore/Main St →

HMart, Mekong Plaza

Stop: Center/Main St →

Stop: Country Club/Main St →

Tacos Chiwas (not original location)
Jarrod’s Coffee, Tea & Gallery

Art & Culture

Stop: Center/Main St →

Nature

Stop: Center/Main St →

Pioneer Park (Old steam locomotive)

Weird

Stop: Country Club/Main St →

Mesa Haunted Museum

With the weather cooling down, I think it’s time for you to get on the light rail and walk around town, if nothing but to prove that the resources provided are being used by the people. I’ve basically curated a build your own light rail adventure. Don’t let all my hard work go to waste! Seriously! It lowkey took way longer than I thought it would and I take the light rail more often than most!

Who to partake in this with:

Friends
Coworkers (team bonding)
Roommates
3rd dates (DO NOT do this for a first date. What a terrible idea!)
Romantic partners
Your polycule or throuple
Your sibling as long as they’re not a complainer
Cousins within a 7 year age difference

The trains run every 15 minutes and the city and its surrounding suburbs won’t explore itself. Bring water, low expectations, and smile. Worse case, you waste half a day and curse my name. Best case, you get to add something interesting to your IG story and people will think you’re interesting and cool. What could be better!