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Scheduled to make its inaugural journey
in 2008, the light rail system from west
Mesa to downtown Phoenix is expected to
help with traffic and pollution and
provide a welcome convenience for
students and commuters.
However, how residents south of the
system will connect with it remains
undetermined.
To help make that decision, Tempe is
studying the possibilities of a
north-south corridor that could run
along any of several existing roadways
using a similar light rail system or
commuter buses.
“We recognize there is a need for a
north-south connection, and we are
looking at the best way to do that,”
Light Rail Deputy Manager Jyme Sue
McLaren said.
“The purpose of study is to evaluate
all of the impacts,” McLaren said.
“We could take away a lane, which would
create more traffic, or we would have to
widen a street to make the (north-south
route) work. Construction could cause
traffic (problems), and widening the
street could affect businesses in the
surrounding area. All of these factors
are being looked at.”
The group is looking to see if the
project will be cost effective and if it
will be environmentally safe.
“While (Rural Road) is the initial
alignment, we are still looking at
other…possibilities,” McLaren said.
“The other options could be more
feasible; we are not endorsing a
corridor, we are just doing research.”
Other locations the researchers are
studying include Kyrene and McClintock
roads, all from Chandler Boulevard to
University Drive.
The study is expected to take
approximately 18-24 months; construction
would start in 2011 with an end-date
sometime in 2015.
And while this is the plan, it is still
not a guarantee that that this proposal
will be put into action, according to
McLaren.
“The results of the study might tell us
that there may be some fatal flaws, and
that a light rail would not be the best
solution,” McLaren said.
“It may conclude that a bus might be the
best solution.” However, she added, “The
cost could outweigh the amount of riders
and environmentally could not be the
best option.” |
