Phoenix Referendum on the Light Rail Scheduled for August
A group called Building a Better Phoenix has collected signatures and have forced a vote on public transit system light rail back to the voters. The group proposes to end the light rail expansion in Phoenix.
Four basic reasons are given for the proposal to stop building the light rail.
They Say
We Say
- Increase traffic congestion, crime and cause gentrification in culturally sensitive communities.
- There is some truth to this argument. It will cause problems for residents and business during construction. There is no evidence it will bring crime with it.
- Lead to years of aggravating construction and roadway access restrictions that will force many small businesses to close or relocate.
- The light rail is a large project employing hundreds of people so it will take time and cause congestion. But again the payoff is large to the residents of District 7.
- Spend 40% percent of the City’s transportation tax revenue to serve less than 1% of the population that use light rail.
- The light rail is available to everyone.
- The more light rail we have, the fewer cars will be on the road.
- Reduce Central Avenue in South Phoenix from four lanes to two.
- We do agree that all light rail track should have two lanes of road on each side of the tracks. But that is no reason to stop the expansion. The plan for the south central expansion should modified to include two more lanes of roadway.
The benefits far outweigh the costs of building the light rail into the heart of District 7. The expansion of the light rail will bring economic growth to the poorest part of Phoenix.
If the light rail is installed with only two lanes of traffic, one on each side, it will require an additional two lanes added at a later date. It is our opinion that four lanes of traffic be included in the original build to avoid heavy construction a few years down the line. We need to account for both short term and long term needs.
Short Term Needs
Long Term Needs
- South Central Light Rail extension built.
- Interest free loans for residents and small business affected by the light rail construction.
- 2 lanes of traffic north and 2 lanes of traffic along the Light Rail extension.
- A Light Rail Network that connects the entire valley.
- 2 lanes of traffic on each side of all Light Rail corridors
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