Those who opposed expansion said they wanted the money used to repave some of Phoenix’s pothole-filled streets and to pay for other infrastructure needs. As cities across the nation have sought to build light-rail systems over the last decade to reduce congestion and air pollution, local governments have faced opposition over spending billions of dollars to pay for new transportation systems in places long dominated by cars and highways. Samuel Jordan, president of the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition, said the decision threw away opportunities for jobs and development. Light rail frequency has been reduced to every 15 minutes instead of every 12 minutes, and some bus lines have reduced capacity. "We were grateful to not have had to reduce our service that much and really keep as much service on the streets as much as possible in order to serve this essential audience," Foose said. That $530 million will fund the remainder of the roughly $1.35 billion light rail expansion into south Phoenix. The projects Valley Metro is currently developing in Phoenix — a new downtown transfer hub, an extension into south Phoenix and an extension to the now-closed Metrocenter Mall — won't be ready for passengers until 2024. But as cost estimates for new rail lines increased, so did the grumbling among some residents. Light rail projects are funded through a variety of sources, including city transportation taxes, county transportation taxes and federal grants. They are generational investments. In other cases, residents of wealthier, mostly white suburbs have complained that connecting their neighborhoods to inner cities might lead to increases in crime. "We've been able to keep people working, wages paid, and we've been able to take advantage of the change of traffic flows to really do some things that we wouldn't have been able to do.". In Denver, expansions of light rail have sometimes fallen behind schedule but have drawn companies to growing areas, transportation officials said. By Timothy Williams and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs. About 1/3 of transit riders are students going to and from school. Maricopa County voters have approved a half-cent sales tax for transportation in multiple elections, but the current tax is set to expire in 2025. "One of the question's that's been asked is, 'For heaven's sake, why would you run a light rail line to a mall that's just closed?'" Bus ridership is down about 40%. Avenue in downtown Phoenix, expansion of the existing Operations and Maintenance Center, purchase of 17 light rail vehicles, and construction of two park and ride lots with a total of 376 parking spaces. Phoenix — the nation’s fifth-largest city, with a population of about 1.6 million — was built for cars. The 5.14km-long Phase I from Montebello to Dunlap Avenue opened in March 2016. The university’s resistance was criticized by Duke graduates and nearby residents who thought the school was shirking its responsibility to help the surrounding community. There no longer will be vehicle traffic allowed on Central Avenue between Washington and Jefferson streets — only pedestrians, buses and light rail. That divided Phoenix into two camps — those who said light rail was too expensive and not a priority, and those who said the region’s future depended on expanded rail. The Metrocenter expansion will feature Phoenix's first elevated light rail platform. In the years since it opened in 2008, the system has undergone two expansions, with at … The opposition, which has sometimes been linked to national conservative organizations, has often asserted that such projects are wasteful and tend to accelerate gentrification in neighborhoods along rail lines. In normal circumstances, the hub construction on multiple bustling downtown streets would be nightmarish for traffic. The network, which is part of the Valley Metro public transit system, began operations on December 27, 2008. Published on August 8, 2019, 12:51 PM EDT "I don't ever want to say anything like COVID is a blessing, but from a construction standpoint we've been extremely fortunate," Smith said. He said Valley Metro believes that piece of property will evolve into a new commercial, residential and employment hub that will center around light rail. Gold Coast Rail Map Jan 01, 1970 We have and will continue to protect our rail because this is not about one route, this is about equity for our entire community. "It's really fun to think about how you can build a Maricopa County of the future and keep investing in this amazing place to live," Gallego said. With voter approval in 1996, 2008 and 2016, new light rail, bus rapid transit and commuter rail service will come online every few years. Among the Phoenix initiative’s largest backers was Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, a conservative nonprofit group that received donations from Americans for Prosperity — a political advocacy group that has been backed by Charles G. Koch and the late David H. Koch — as recently as 2016, according to tax records. Valley Metro is also expanding the western endpoint of the existing light rail line. "Any of these investments are not snapshots. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said the city knows it will have to "earn transit ridership back" by ensuring safety precautions, like enhanced cleaning and required face masks. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. The service is planned to operate every 12 minutes for most of the weekday, every 20 minutes during late "We want to make the light rail extensions a win for the people who are already in the community," she said. Since then, voters have approved funding for light rail, buses and other transportation projects many times over. The hub will include four new light rail stations for transferring lines. Hasan Minhaj calls out Koch brothers for derailing public transportation across country It faces opposition from business owners backed by activists affiliated with the Koch network E v a n W y l o g e i n P h o e n i x Public transportation ridership has dropped in every city across the country since March, when stay-at-home orders, school closures and remote work began in many states. "There are many people who are going to want to know it is safe before they come back, and so we have to be very intentional about that," she said. Phoenix will vote Tuesday on a light rail system expansion. "To see how first, ride share has disrupted transportation and secondly, how the mere mention of the potential of autonomous vehicles has continued to further disrupt — that's where I see we have to maintain our flexibility," Smith said. The city has said it would cost about $1.6 billion to restore the streets to decent condition. 1 year ago . Light rail ridership is down a little over 50% from where it was pre-COVID-19, according to Valley Metro CEO Scott Smith. PHOENIX – The City of Phoenix will receive $49.4 million from a federal grant program to put toward the latest expansion of the light rail system in the northern part of town. "I'm hopeful that the Metrocenter of the future will be a very active destination with a lot of amenities for the northwestern part of our city.". She said she also hopes the plan includes funds for transportation innovation that will allow the region to adapt to new technology. The first major transit tax was approved by Phoenix voters in 2000. City officials estimated that Proposition 104 would directly generate $16.7 billion through 2051. Phoenix Light Rail Map Extension Shelly Lighting October 31, 2018 Light rail is inching toward south future light rail map and movephx campaign light rail expansion in phoenix az southern route for expanding light rail Construction of the bridge over Interstate 17 should begin in the next few months, Smith said. “Good News: You have a chance to fix those roads” by voting to block the light rail expansion. Valley Metro spokesperson Hillary Foose said both the light rail and bus system serve an "essential group of riders" — people like health care workers, grocery store clerks and janitorial workers, who continued to go into work while others stayed home. Learn more Creating vibrant stations Early construction began in September. The 1.9-mile Gilbert Road light rail extension opened to serve residents in Mesa and connect people to jobs, school and entertainment across the now 28 miles of light rail service across Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix. He said he hopes the next transportation plan allows for some room for creativity as new technologies become real possibilities. Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said in a press release Friday that the South Central light rail extension will help the state's economy and create jobs. The Northwest Phase II extension will include new elements in Phoenix. BREAKING NEWS // Phoenix police investigating after armed woman shot by officers Close Construction on the south Phoenix light rail expansion is set to begin this spring. He said the point of the extension is not to bring riders to and from the mall. The organization says it has not had a direct role in the Phoenix initiative against light rail. So we're going to plan accordingly as if we come back to some sort of normalcy within the next one to five years," Smith said. Light rail expansion is not stopping--not today, not tomorrow. The goal is to create a more pedestrian and transit-oriented feel in the centerpiece of downtown, Smith said. That project and two other planned extensions would have been scrapped if voters had approved Proposition 105 on Tuesday. (PHOENIX, Ariz.) After experiencing almost an entire year of low ridership, Valley Metro is getting a boost in the form of $530 million from the Federal Transit Administration, The Arizona Republic reported. Ridership on Phoenix’s light rail system has risen steadily since it launched a decade ago. The extension, which includes the light rail system’s first roundabout at Horne and Main Street, broke ground in October 2016. The vote in Phoenix, which has wrestled with poor air quality, intermittent droughts and heavy reliance on automobiles, comes after decades of dizzying growth. According to Gallego's news release, these funds are for the extension of the South Central Light Rail. City of Phoenix. "What we're hearing now is that the malls of the future will likely have to be even more of an experience, and it won't just be picking up your goods but do you have a good time while you're there," she said. In Durham, N.C., plans for a light-rail route connecting residents, universities and hospitals were scrapped amid objections from Duke University officials, who said it would cause problems at the school’s medical campus. The line takes around 85 minutes […] Workers are removing medians on Central Avenue and starting to relocate water pipes and utility lines to get ready for the rail system. People who use the system to get to work likely will return when companies begin transitioning back to traditional work environments as well, she said. "These projects don't happen overnight. Smith said. In North Carolina, a plan for a $2.4 billion light-rail line with 18 stops from Durham to Chapel Hill was discussed for two decades but was dropped in March after Duke University, whose campus would have been skirted by the line, opposed the project. On September 26, 2018, the Phoenix City Council voted to continue to move forward with the current two-lane design for the South Central Light Rail Extension. Local Bus & Light Rail 1-Day 1-Ride; Full Fare. Phoenix Votes to Expand Light Rail, as Cities Wrestle With Public Transit. Light rail expansion is not stopping— not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Face coverings are required on public transportation. The extension will whittle Central Avenue to two vehicle lanes from four, which has drawn ire from some nearby business owners and residents. "The community felt very strongly with those palm trees. On buses, passengers board through rear doors to minimize contact with drivers, and the city of Phoenix and Valley Metro have installed physical barriers between drivers and passengers. “Bad News: 70 percent of Phoenix streets are in fair, poor or very poor condition,” Sal DiCiccio, a city councilman, wrote in support of the ballot initiative before the vote. (Phoenix voters overwhelmingly rejected Proposition 105, with 62 percent saying “no” to the effort to derail the city’s planned light rail expansion. In operation since the tail end of 2008, the 26-mile Valley Metro Light Rail stretches from 19th Ave. and Dunlap Ave. in upper-central Phoenix to downtown Mesa and offers quick access to downtown Phoenix, Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona State University, Mill Avenue in Tempe and plenty more along the way. — Kate Gallego (@KateWGallego) August 28, 2019. AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. RELATED ARTICLES. The line currently ends at Dunlap and 19th avenues but will be expanded another 1½ miles over Interstate 17 to Metrocenter Mall. Reach the reporter at jessica.boehm@gannett.com or 480-694-1823. According to the website of Valley Metro, the regional public-transit authority, the expansion project will last until 2024 and extend light rail from downtown Phoenix south to Baseline Road. So when we decide to take transit here, of course we look at the existing landscape, but we also look and see what the future will hold," Smith said. In Baltimore, advocates for light rail say they can only rue the loss of what might have been after Governor Hogan killed a plan in 2015 for a $2.9 billion light-rail expansion known as the Red Line. Gallego said she's confident Metrocenter will be bought by a developer who will invest in the property and bring it into the 21st century. But another city’s fight over light rail ended differently this week: Residents in Phoenix voted on Tuesday to continue financing that city’s growing light-rail system — a rebuke to opponents who had argued that the system was too costly, and a lift to people who see public transit as a key to the city’s future. The Northwest Light Rail Extension was approved by the Phoenix City Council in 2004 to expand the light rail from the previous end-of-line at 19th Avenue/Montebello to 25th Avenue and Mountain View road. Light rail construction hasn't slowed, however. The extension is expected to open to passengers in 2024, but a substantial amount of work is already underway. Hazel Frost December 18, 2020 Map. PHOENIX (AP) — The U.S. Department of Transportation has granted an additional $638 million to complete a light rail extension project in Phoenix. Fewer than one-third of jobs in the Baltimore area can be reached within 90 minutes using public transit, according to a 2016 study by the Brookings Institution. Both Smith and Gallego said they hope the transportation plan will include flexibility that will allow the region to take advantage of new and still-unknown transportation options. "In the next iteration, we can't simply plan to build more freeways and more rail lines like we have in the past," he said. It serves about 48,000 people each weekday and has stops in downtown Phoenix, as well as at or near Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona State University in Tempe and the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa. Map of the Phoenix Light Rail route including stations. Major roads in downtown Phoenix are under construction right now as Valley Metro prepares to create a light rail hub on Washington and Jefferson streets and Central and Third avenues. FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2016 file photo, a Metro Light Rail train stops for passengers in Phoenix. 01:45. Other cities that have tried to build extensive light-rail systems have seen mixed results. For more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com. We are building it right now, and people who laid the groundwork are still here to help us.". They have a connection with them," Smith said. A light rail train travels along Camelback Road in Phoenix. But because more people are staying home from work and downtown sports and special events are cancelled, construction on the hub has been less intrusive. "I think if we used that same logic, we'd say 'Let's go tear down all the movie theaters and all the stadiums.' Valley Metro Rail is a 28.2-mile light rail line serving the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa in Arizona, USA. Support local journalism. In 2015, Phoenix voters approved a 35-year, $31.5 billion transportation plan that would expand light rail, buses and streets repairs. Smith said that the plan is to make the end of the line a transit hub where buses will congregate, allowing residents in the northwest to access more public transportation options from the light rail station. "These high-capacity corridors are important, but we also have to make sure that we don't expend all our resources on this tech without recognizing that there is new technology that will come and enhance our transportation, but not replace our transportation.". The Proposition had received the backing of many business owners along the planned extension route in south Phoenix, as well as … Last year, a group of light rail detractors tried to stop the south central extension — and the entire light rail program — by putting the rail system back on the ballot. Gallego said voter approval to extend the regional transportation tax is essential just to maintain the current level of public transportation service and freeway maintenance in metro Phoenix. In New York, for example, ridership on the subway dropped 90% in the first three months of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the New York Times. In Baltimore, Maryland’s governor, Larry Hogan, deemed a transit line proposal too expensive, ending hopes for a link between the east and west sides of the city. Valley Metro and the city of Phoenix have requested over $500 million in potential federal funding for the project, which is expected to cost about $1.3 billion and open for operations in 2024. See more METRO maps at: http://raillife.com/light-rail-info/phoenix-light-rail-map/ Nobody expects this to be around forever. The Metrocenter line will open to passengers in 2024. The line carried 49,416 passengers per day in 2016, making it the 14th busiest light rail system in the country. Campaigning over the future of mass rail transit in Phoenix rolled into the final stretch Monday, Aug. 26, 2019 as more voters returned early ballots weighing whether to halt all expansion of the light rail … Artist rendering of the elevated platform and bridge for Phoenix light rail's Northwest Phase II extension. Gallego said that once in-person school resumes, she expects that group of riders will return to the system. Another Phoenix resident, Johnny Hernandez, said the extension will revitalize south-central Phoenix, attracting more business. Phoenix is ramping up its light rail system despite record-breaking declines in ridership spurred by COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Transportation has granted an additional $638 million to complete a light rail extension project in Phoenix. The system was built in stages using federal transportation funds and three voter-approved sales tax increases. Smith said he can envision both ride-share services and driverless cars connecting more people with the light rail and bus systems. — Mayor Kate Gallego (@MayorGallego) August 28, 2019. "It's Important to recognize that within a generation, we've really changed the city," Gallego said. FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2016 file photo, a Metro Light Rail train stops for passengers in Phoenix. Duke administrators said it would jeopardize public safety and health. "We know that our transit system is the backbone of our economy and lets people get to work and school and other essential parts of their life," Gallego said. “Modernization is at risk,” Mike Huckins, a spokesman for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, said this week, before the results of the citywide vote on the light-rail system’s future were announced. A bridge will be built over Interstate 17 as part of Phoenix’s light rail expansion. Michael Kelly, who said he has lived in south Phoenix his whole life, supports the project. Metrocenter Mall closed in June after 46 years of business. The route was split into two phases in 2007. In Phoenix, a car-oriented city that has grown very rapidly in recent decades, residents voted on Tuesday to continue financing expansion of the region’s light-rail system. Several businesses in the area received grants to help them through revenue losses, she said. Gallego said Phoenix is working closely with businesses along Central Avenue to help them through the impacts of both construction and COVID-19. Campaigning over the future of mass rail transit in Phoenix rolled into the final stretch Monday as more voters returned early ballots weighing whether to halt all expansion of the light rail … In fact, Valley Metro has accelerated some projects, taking advantage of less vehicle traffic on the road while more people stay home. Mayor Kate Gallego, who has supported expanding the rail system, described the election results as essential to the city’s future. The most anticipated and controversial light rail extension will start at the new downtown hub and run south on Central Avenue to Baseline Road. Smith said Valley Metro recently relocated about 30 large palm trees from the Central Avenue medians and a local nonprofit will replant them in other places throughout south Phoenix. "To me, that's one of the exciting things about Phoenix. “Without reliable, equitable transportation, Baltimore won’t be a modern city,” Mr. Jordan said. Leaders in the region are already working on a renewed transportation plan to bring to Maricopa County voters in the next few years in hopes that they will agree to extend the transportation tax for another two decades. "I think (Metrocenter) will transition into one of the most exciting new developments in Phoenix history.". Follow her on Twitter @jboehm_NEWS. But as any driver who gets stuck during rush hour on Interstate 10 near downtown will attest, the city now wrestles with traffic. The proposition failed overwhelmingly, which kept the light rail on track to expand into south Phoenix. “It won’t rank among the leading cities of this nation.”, Phoenix Votes to Expand Light Rail, as Cities Wrestle With Public Transit. “The City Council will support the will of the people and will vote for the expansion of the light rail system,” Kelly said. The new hub will allow riders to transfer between the existing light rail line and the line that eventually will head down Central Avenue into south Phoenix. They take many years to happen. We're going to at some point in time, whether it be in the next month or the next year, return to some normalcy," Smith said. In metro Phoenix, the ridership drop has not been as severe as in other major U.S. cities, where there were more stringent shelter-in-place orders. When complete in 2024, the downtown hub will create a light rail loop around Phoenix City Council chambers, the Calvin C. Goode building and a portion of the CityScape development. But with ridership at all-time lows and no indication as to when ridership will return at pre-pandemic levels, is it smart to continue with pricey expansion of the light rail system? Americans for Prosperity has in the past coordinated door-to-door anti-transit canvassing campaigns for several local- or state-level ballot measures around the nation. Valley Metro Rail, the area’s 28-mile light-rail line, opened in December 2008. Phoenix light rail extension contract approved 2020-07-22T11:00:00 USA: The award of a contract for a joint venture of Kiewit and McCarthy to build Phase II of the northwest light rail extension in Phoenix was approved by the Valley Metro Rail board on July 16. The tax funds not only public transportation but also freeways and other street transportation projects. Unofficial election results posted on the city’s website, linked to national conservative organizations. When complete in 2024, the downtown hub will create a light rail loop around Phoenix City Council chambers, the Calvin C. Goode building and a portion of the CityScape development. The city's 0.7% transportation sales tax was approved by voters through Proposition 104 in 2015. Otherwise, the system is basically operating at the same level as it was before COVID-19, Foose said. The 5.5-mile extension will connect the existing light rail tracks that run along Central Avenue in downtown to Baseline Road in south Phoenix with completion of the project expected in 2024. The article is about the City of Phoenix, citizen groups, and the light rail expansion into South Phoenix where the design desires of citizens differ from project-funded design. Unofficial election results posted on the city’s website on Tuesday night showed that about 62 percent of voters wanted to continue financing an expanded rail system. 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