The Site Analysis: Mobility Challenges

Implementing new mobility solutions represents a unique challenge in Phoenix given the strategy’s departure from past transportation planning priorities. Barriers to consider during design are threefold:

Regional-scale transportation has been a priority: First, regional—rather than local or hyper-local— mobility has historically been a priority for Phoenix given the metropolitan area’s sprawl. A prime example of the regional focus of public investment in transportation is Valley Metro’s light rail expansion. The original light rail system consisted of one, 20mile line and has since been expanded to a 28-mile length. Three additional expansions are planned through 2030 to extend the light rail to the south and west of the Inner Loop. In contrast, the bus system has not shifted its network in the last five years, despite population growth in the area and new development.

Transit stations not considered destinations:

Second, investment in transit stations has been relatively nonexistent given the predominance of private vehicle ownership. Over 60% of Inner Loop households own at least one vehicle, resulting in a lack of public attention and demand for quality transit stations. Yet to increase public transportation ridership, it is important to think about the full ridership experience, both at the station and within the vehicle. The public transit system must become a set of destinations in and of itself; a first for Phoenix.

Cost of transportation:

Finally, a shift from a car-centric cityscape to one that prioritizes alternative modes of transportation requires significant economic behavior change. Phoenix residents spend on average 20.5% of their income on transportation related expenses, which is three percentage points higher than the next comparable metro area. The sunk costs of car purchase and maintenance account for this disparity and may dissuade individuals from selecting an alternative mode despite daily cost savings. It may also make traditional mechanisms for financing transit—i.e., sales tax increases—unpopular. An alternative approach must be shown to be a better value for residents, whether through cost or time savings.

Traffic volume map

Source: Hazel O’Neil