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OUR MISSION About Friends of Transit Friends of Transit was incorporated in 2001 as an Arizona nonprofit corporation. The mission of Friends of Transit is to educate the public on the benefits and importance to the Greater Phoenix community of a welldesigned and accessible mass transit system which represents a major component of a balanced regional transportation plan. The idea of forming Friends of Transit came about after the Phoenix electorate approved a sales tax increase in 2000 to fund a comprehensive transit system consisting of improved bus service and the addition of a light rail transit component. As a result of the successful transit elections in the cities of Phoenix and Tempe several community leaders identified the continuing need to educate the public about the benefits of the voterapproved plans especially given that some elements of the system would not be implemented for several years following the vote.