Subject: Editorial: Light rail worth shouting about 
Date: Friday, January 20, 2006 5:16 PM

Editorial: Light rail worth shouting about 

Too many people cite only the inconvenience, forget about the final
outcome 

Jan. 20, 2006 12:00 AM 

 

Phoenix - a place punctuated throughout history by speculators and
self-promoters - should be pounding its chest . . . and helping some
local businesses in the process. 

Our $1.3 billion light-rail project is the largest public construction
undertaking since the Central Arizona Project. And, despite its
persistent critics, light rail promises to reshape and remake a
significant portion of the urban footprint in the Valley, bringing new
excitement, people and energy from west Phoenix to Mesa. 

Yet, at the moment, the light-rail project is being portrayed - by too
many - as little more than an urban traffic jam, a business
inconvenience. 

Where are the signs heralding: "Your tax dollars at work!" "Help is on
the way"? 

Or at least: "Pardon the roadwork. Light rail coming." 

We see far too little of that here, even on Central Avenue, the city's
historic signature street.

Additional signage could remind motorists of several key points:


. Even though traffic is reduced by a couple of lanes along North 19th
Avenue, West Camelback Road and through the downtown, you can still get
through. 


. Most of the businesses along the light-rail route remain open. 


. The construction is to be phased in. The entire length of the route
will not be torn up for the duration of the project. Work crews will be
moving along the initial 20-mile segment until 2008 when the first
light-rail train begins operating. 

The light-rail project is drawing rave reviews from visitors from cities
where similar transportation projects have opened. Valley Metro, the
organization heading up the effort, is credited for developing a smart
construction schedule, lining up a good communications operation and
working well with community groups. 

They've even come up with some worthwhile promotions, like the Metro Max
card, good for discounts at participating businesses, including auto
dealers, restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, bookstores, even attorneys. 

Yes, the orange cones and winding detours are a hassle. But the payoff
is big. One retailer from Minneapolis advises locals to "think positive"
and avoid the pessimism that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If
you say you can't get to a store because of the light-rail project, your
customers will believe you. 

The businesses along the route bear the brunt of a program that will
benefit the Valley for decades to come. All of us should appreciate
their sacrifice through these challenging times. We should look forward
to the light-rail project's completion.

And we should brag about it, too.