Parker Leavitt

The Republic | azcentral.com

Scottsdale leaders are headed for another public showdown over whether to join the light-rail system — a lightning rod in the affluent community — as the City Council will decide in the next few months whether to make potential rail routes part of the city's long-term planning.

City officials are updating the Transportation Master Plan, which guides policy for roads, trails and public transit such as buses and trolleys. The previous plan was approved in 2008, several months before a 20-mile starter line brought rail to Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.

Although other cities laid plans for rail extensions and new branch lines, Scottsdale sent a clear message in 2009 when the City Council voted to end its membership on the Valley Metro Rail Board of Directors, a group that today includes Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale and Chandler. Council members argued the $50,000 annual membership fee made no sense because the city had no plans for light-rail tracks.

The new transportation plan, however, outlines three possible rail routes that would connect Scottsdale to the existing Valley Metro line. Two would begin near Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, while the other would run along McDowell Road past the SkySong complex and General Dynamics facility.

Scottsdale's Transportation Commission voted in January to include potential rail routes as part of the new 20-year master plan.

The proposal will require City Council approval, and it's unclear which way the divided group will swing. No public hearing date has been announced, but it should happen within the next two to four months, according to city officials.

Although including the routes would not guarantee light rail's arrival in Scottsdale, it would mark the first real step in that direction. The city also could consider a streetcar or "other rail technologies that might be developed in the near future" along the proposed routes, Transportation Director Paul Basha said.

A divisive issue

Several Valley cities have welcomed light rail with enthusiasm, but the issue has been the subject of fierce debate in Scottsdale — a city with older, wealthier residents and a reputation for fiscal conservatism.

Current council members are divided on the issue, and there are conflicting opinions on whether there are enough votes to move light rail forward.

Scottsdale Vice Mayor David Smith, a former Amtrak executive, opposes the idea of building light rail in Scottsdale and does not want to see the potential routes included in the transportation plan.

"Light rail is the least flexible option any city could consider or implement," Smith said. "I believe it would impose on the citizens of Scottsdale an enormous capital and operating burden that would likely be technologically obsolete ... perhaps before it would even be completed."

It's not clear how light-rail construction in Scottsdale would be funded, but Phoenix voters recently approved a sales-tax increase to expand transit service — including light-rail lines — in that city. An existing transit tax in Glendale would help pay for a planned extension to that city's downtown. Light-rail construction projects also receive regional and federal funding, which is how Mesa's downtown extension was financed.

Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield, another light-rail opponent, said she believes most Scottsdale residents don't want to pay for the rail or deal with the aggravation of sharing the road with trains.

"There's a different dynamic here in Scottsdale," Littlefield said. "It is much more car-oriented. It has an older population that doesn't want to be dependent on public transportation."

Councilwoman Virgina Korte has repeatedly called for more dialogue on light rail, while Councilwoman Linda Milhaven said she supports including rail as an option in the new transportation plan.

"I believe that we need good connections to the regional transportation system and good connections to get people around in Scottsdale," Milhaven said. "We should be open to considering all possibilities."

Where light rail could go

Scottsdale could see rail develop along one of three routes, according to the proposed Transportation Master Plan. All three run through south Scottsdale and are roughly 6 miles long.

Yellow line: Scottsdale Fashion Square to ASU

The proposed "Yellow Line" would start near Scottsdale Fashion Square mall and extend south along Scottsdale Road, meeting the existing Valley Metro line at Rural Road and University Drive on Arizona State University's Tempe campus.

This route could tap into the dense residential hub emerging in downtown Scottsdale while providing a direct link between ASU and Scottsdale's shopping, dining and nightlife scenes.

Potential stops could include Scottsdale Fashion Square, Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale Stadium, SkySong, Rio Salado Parkway near the massive State Farm office complex and Sun Devil Stadium.

Blue Line: Scottsdale Fashion Square past Phoenix Zoo

The "Blue Line" also would start at Scottsdale Fashion Square and go south on Scottsdale Road. The proposed route would turn west on McDowell Road, pass through Papago Park in Phoenix and meet the existing line at Priest/Washington station.

This route would tap into many of the same downtown Scottsdale destinations as the Yellow Line and could allow for light-rail stops at popular Phoenix attractions like the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden.

The line also would link downtown Scottsdale to the employment hub around Priest Drive and Washington Street, which eventually will include the Grand at Papago Park Center, with more than 3 million square feet of office, retail and hotel space.

Red Line: McDowell Road Corridor

The proposed "Red Line" would run along McDowell Road in south Scottsdale, starting near the General Dynamics facility on the east and eventually meeting the existing line at 44th and Washington streets, which would also provide a connection to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Sky Train.

This route could help the city's efforts to revitalize the McDowell Road Corridor, an area that once thrived with car dealerships but has struggled in recent years. Potential stops could include General Dynamics, SkySong and 64th Street at the entrance to Papago Park.

Are trolleys a good alternative?

Scottsdale's free trolley service also could be expanded under the transportation plan, with two new routes in north Scottsdale.

Proposed trolley service in the Scottsdale Airpark would run north and south of the airport, connecting a major employment center with the Scottsdale Quarter and Scottsdale Promenade shopping centers and a park-and-ride lot at Scottsdale and Thunderbird roads.

Another new route would run through the Cactus area between Shea Boulevard and Bell Road, east of Loop 101. The area is predominantly residential, and the trolley could include stops at Desert Mountain High School, Via Linda Senior Center, Scottsdale Shea Medical Center and Ice Den Scottsdale.

Sonnie Kirtley, a community activist who runs the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale, believes the city could use trolley service instead of light rail to connect to the Valley's regional transit network — a notion that also has support on the council from Littlefield.

"That would still cost money, of course, but it would be a heck of a lot less expensive than laying rail," Littlefield said.

New route, increased frequency make Scottsdale's free trolleys more useful

What happens next

Scottsdale's role in regional rail planning will be shaped in part by the City Council's decision on the transportation plan, according to Basha.

If the council leaves rail out of the document, Scottsdale will remain on the sidelines as planning continues for future routes across metro Phoenix. If rail is included, Scottsdale will collaborate with Valley Metro to begin the analysis required for projects that receive federal funding, Basha said.

Valley Metro spokeswoman Susan Tierney said the organization would welcome Scottsdale's interest. The city's network of regional destinations, employment centers, educational institutions and its robust tourism industry make it a compelling city to connect through public transit, she said.

"Adding new destinations is intriguing and would benefit current riders while attracting many new riders," Tierney said. "With rail operating in downtown areas, it’s also an opportunity to draw economy-boosting mega-events such as Super Bowl XLIX and National College Football Championship pre-game events."

The Valley's $1.4 billion investment in opening the original 20-mile rail line has since spurred $8.2 billion in public and private investment across Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, Tierney said.

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