Access, Reliability and Inclusion: Getting Around Greater DTPHX

Until recently, long distances separated Phoenix from other cities that could only be reached by car or the occasional RAPID bus route. Since 2008, light rail has narrowed that barrier, connecting people to these places with more than 30 miles of track. 

On June 7, Valley Metro kicked off services of the South Central Extension, which represented a decade of advocacy by hundreds of stakeholders, including Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA), to connect South Phoenix with the Downtown Business Core. The new 5.5-mile route provides South Phoenix residents access to better jobs, healthcare, and Downtown amenities, where nearly 44% of the community lacks access to a vehicle. 

For Downtown’s 58,000 workers, economic advancement is less abstract when access is readily available. Against the backdrop of revitalization are those who’ve reoriented their lives around new public infrastructure that accommodated them and surrounding businesses.  

“After my wife and I graduated from law school, we had a lot of school debt and could not afford a car,” said Ed Hermes, a Snell & Wilmer partner and community advocate. “We relied on the light rail for work, grocery shopping, visiting friends, and running daily errands. This forced us to learn and become very comfortable with the transit system.” 

Although their careers and circumstances changed, Hermes and his family still loyally patronize the public transportation network more than a decade later, saving thousands of dollars in maintenance expenses and buying a secondary vehicle. 

The new line's opening also necessitated that light rail evolves into a two-line system, which more closely resembles peer cities. The transformation also brings future extensions closer to reality. The literal track to expand west toward the State Capitol (CAPEX), and eventually the I-10, is staged on Van Buren Street for when the project is ready to begin construction. 

“The I-10 West light rail extension represents a higher capacity route for those commuting into Downtown,” said Kyle Foxcroft, PCA’s Treasurer and Multi-Modal Connectivity Committee Co-Chair. “The ability to leverage the I-10 easements means that the trains will be able to run faster along that route, which will encourage ridership and reduce rush hour congestion.” 

However, the light rail only speaks to one local travel and connectivity element.  

In the last decade, the City of Phoenix has invested more in bike lane infrastructure to connect nearby neighborhoods easily to the core, which Hermes and others utilize regularly. 

In May, Hermes, Urban Phoenix Project, and Foxcroft organized this year’s annual Bike to Work Day ride, sponsored by Downtown Phoenix, Inc. and other sponsors. About 200 riders participated in the ride, which showcased the dedicated bike lanes on 3rd Street and opportunities to add similar lanes where gaps exist. 

The City of Phoenix’s Streets Transportation Department will eventually add more infrastructure, including the Garfield Historic District to the east and the upcoming Rio Salado Pedestrian Bridge, which is an additional link to Downtown and South Phoenix. 

Conversely, Urban Phoenix Project and its members share the practical perspective that a greater volume of bike lanes and other supportive infrastructure reduces the reliance on cars, which the city was built around. Where distance is an issue, expansion of rapid bus routes potentially fills the gaps, which are typically faster than local bus service.  

“I’m most excited for the upcoming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line [on 35th Avenue] and its potential for Downtown [where it’s ending] and a wider swath of the city,” said Nicole Rodriguez, Urban Phoenix Project’s President. “BRT may not be flashy, but it's one of the most practical and equitable tools to connect more neighborhoods, especially ones left behind by major transit investments.” 

As time passes, the urban planning concept of a 15-minute city, where a community has accessible businesses, physical infrastructure, and public transportation services that residents can access within minutes of their homes, becomes increasingly real.  

The new light rail extension servicing South Phoenix brings these residents closer to these aspirations despite their own gaps. To address these issues, PCA Member Multistudio and the South Central Collaborative are hosting open houses and workshops to enhance existing community features, such as shade trees and structures, quality sidewalks, and trails along the canal and Rio Salado for further pedestrian connectivity. 

The function of these discussions is to protect Central City South’s character and its residents from displacement as the community develops. The values of these discussions are broadly articulated in Phoenix Revitalization Corporation’s (PRC) Quality of Life Plan, an aspirational document of objectives for the community’s future growth. 

“The core value of inclusion made the Downtown area more welcoming and easier to access,” said PRC’s Executive Director and CEO Eva Olivas. “The means of transportation in our communities help better the lives of our residents in employment, education, and everyday needs, such as grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, etc. 

Whether discussing future light rail routes, Prop 479 projects, or highlighting a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), PCA’s Multi-Modal Connectivity Committee is a venue for Members to support or improve stakeholder initiatives. 

“Everyone benefits from a more connected and efficient city. Families without cars, seniors, people with disabilities, youth, and even drivers benefit when fewer people are burdened to drive,” said Rodriguez. “When it aligns with trips, riding the bus in Phoenix is one of the few times I can relax and be part of the public life of my city.”