Week 3: Phoenix

The lack of public transportation that Phoenix has compared to most big cities, such as New York and Chicago, has lead to the fact that most people drive everywhere. The design of the Phoenix area can be compared to Robert Moses’ bridge because there are so many freeways that loop and cut through the town. This cuts travel time from one end of the valley to the other drastically, making it easier and less of an inconvenience to live farther away from downtown Phoenix. I also think that since public transportation, like the city buses in Phoenix, have a bad reputation to be unsafe, which may also cause people to drive rather than take the bus. Obviously, the Phoenix area is huge; it would take a very long time to take the city bus all the way from downtown to north Scottsdale. This may be an unintended, or intended, political consequence similar to Robert Moses’ bridges. People that live farther away from downtown Phoenix, which have the reputation of being unsafe and crime filled, may feel it is more secure and safe.

I think that the development of the light rail was initially a way to make the downtown Phoenix area more popular, by making it easier for people to get downtown from Tempe to go to sporting events, conventions, and museums. I also think that its development was part of the bigger plan, making downtown Phoenix more of a “big city” feel. The greater Phoenix area is so spread out and there are so many different things going on in different parts of the valley, that besides sporting events (and other events) or work, most people do not tend to venture to downtown Phoenix.

The light rail’s route goes from central phoenix, 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, through downtown Phoenix, Tempe, and ends near Main Street and Dobson in Mesa. This route is beneficial to students in Tempe wanting to go downtown or for students at the Phoenix campus to go to Tempe to enjoy the nightlife there. I also think that it is beneficial for commuters that may live and work near light rail stops, saving gas and money. After reading the article, one can begin to recognize the possible political agenda behind the light rail’s route. It is accessible to those who want to use it and is inexpensive, but at the same time limits where one can go. It does not go up to north Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, north Phoenix, or even Old Town Scottsdale, thus making it more difficult for people whose only means of transportation is public transportation to get to these parts of the valley.

I don’t know if it is possible to have an alternative transportation system or even an improved one to serve a “democratic” function. The Phoenix area is so big, that regardless of the implementation of a better transportation system, most people would prefer to drive on the many freeways than have a longer commute.