Lars Jacoby<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nJacoby said city officials have learned from light rail construction elsewhere in the Valley how to better mitigate the impact construction can have on residents and small businesses. Jacoby, who also lives in south Phoenix, says the city will be proactive in listening to concerns from residents and the multiple mom-and-pop business owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamilies and businesses will all benefit from the connectivity and be able to thrive,\u201d Falcon said. \u201cBut we have to make sure that we work to protect our long-term residents and businesses along the construction route.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vidales agrees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of mom-and-pop stores and a lot of diversity, schools, churches and other institutions along the route,\u201d he said. \u201cThey must be brought into the conversation. We also are being taxed as community leaders to come together with the city and Valley Metro to get the most comprehensive plan that we can by working together and not conflicting with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prop. 104 went into effect Jan. 1, increasing the city\u2019s sales tax to 8.6 percent from 8.3 percent to fund a variety of transportation projects, including increased bus service and routes, street improvements, infrastructure and potential light rail expansion into Paradise Valley Mall, 79th Avenue, Grand Canyon University, Metrocenter Mall and south Phoenix.<\/p>\n
Councilman Michael Nowakowski, D-7, supports the plan and believes it will bring long-term economic prosperity to the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe extension will promote much needed economic activity, including affordable housing, commerce and other development,\u201d he said. \u201cBusinesses along the completed light rail line will see an influx of customers as the area becomes a hub for economic development.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton began pushing for the transportation proposal in 2014 when he established a citizen\u2019s committee to draft a plan in advance of 2020, when the city\u2019s .04 sales tax was slated to end.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Phoenix voters made a historic investment in public transit, we\u2019re able to accelerate high-capacity transit projects to meet more immediate community and mobility needs,\u201d Stanton said in a statement. \u201cThe adjustments to the transportation plan are critically important to further the city\u2019s economic development, sustainability and accessibility goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phoenix City Council approved the plans on Jan. 26, which include accelerating segments of the future high-capacity\/light rail transit system to advance into the Regional Transportation Plan. The changes will be sent to the Valley Metro Boards of Directors and the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council for discussion and final adoption into the plan this summer, according to the city\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n
Jacoby said that as plans move forward, city officials will undertake several steps to assist businesses and residents during construction.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the last four years, transit staff has worked with the community and businesses to obtain input for the future light rail extension into south Phoenix. That outreach has shaped the next steps Phoenix and Valley Metro will take to prepare stakeholders, specifically business owners, to develop and implement an early action business assistance program,\u201d Jacboy explained.<\/p>\n
Some of those steps will include: meetings with business owners to understand their concerns, their business models and needed resources. There also will be business support meetings and workshops, city partnerships with local non-profits, business chambers, community-based organizations, and others that specialize in small business assistance.<\/p>\n
He said the transit department used this approach recently on light rail\u2019s Northwest Extension.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the years we have learned a lot about partnering with local businesses to ensure they remain active during light rail construction,\u201d Jacoby said. \u201cEach community has specific needs and we plan on working with businesses to develop the best possible business outreach program each time we approach a new light rail construction project.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(This article appears in the print edition of the South Mountain District News) PHOENIX \u2013 Affordable public transportation to jobs, schools, businesses, colleges, churches and downtown Phoenix, as well as increased opportunity for economic development \u00a0are among the reasons south Phoenix residents are celebrating the city\u2019s January decision to expedite extending light rail into […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[434],"tags":[227,437,154,253,254,436,236,220,435],"yoast_head":"\n
City expedites light rail extension into south Phoenix - Laveen Business Directory<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n