Subject: Transit Oriented Development Item in Phoenix Bond Package
Date: Friday, October 28, 2005 7:24 PM

Friends,

Lately, you have probably read or heard a great deal about the City of
Phoenix's citizen process that has made a recommendation to the Phoenix
City Council for $857 million worth of capital projects (ie., police,
fire, storm sewers, neighborhood revitalization, etc.).

What you may not have heard, is that one of the items recommended by the
Economic Development Subcommittee and approved by the Executive
Committee is an item for $2.0 million for Transit Oriented Development
Land Acquisition & Public Infrastructure.  Below is an excerpt from that
eport:

"Funding is requested to assist in land acquisition to facilitate
transit oriented development (TOD) along the light rail corridor.  Land
acquisition assistance will be addressed on a project by project basis
and will be provided to close a quantifiable economic gap in the project
and/or leverage city-owned land along the light rail corridor.
Assistance will be considered for projects that incorporate TOD elements
such as high density, a mix of housing options, employment and shopping
opportunities designed for pedestrians.

In addition, this program will provide funding to assist transit
oriented development (TOD) projects with public infrastructure
improvements along the Phoenix light rail corridor.  This funding could
provide for public improvements such as:  landscape enhancements, public
gathering spaces, open plazas, art, sidewalk widening and improving the
connectivity for pedestrians between stations and nearby developments."

Interesting stuff!!

The Phoenix City Council is set to vote on this entire citizen-driven
bond package on Tuesday, November 1st at 2:00 p.m. at City Council
Chambers - 200 W. Jefferson.

If you want to learn more about what is in the overall package, you can
read more about it on the City of Phoenix's website  www.phoenix.gov
and click on the "2006 Bond Program" button on the home page.

And speaking of Transit Oriented Development, if you really want to
learn more about this exciting topic, please consider attending Friends
of Transit's Fourth Annual Conference coming up Friday, February 24,
2006.  Visit our website www.friendsoftransit.org and click on the "Save
the Date Card" and we'll be sure to send you more information as the
time draws near.