Where do rail, streetcars fit in Scottsdale?

Part 1 of 2-day series

When critics of mass transit learned that the man who once oversaw Portland’s light-rail and streetcar system was hired to devise Scottsdale’s transportation plan, they claimed that the “fix” was in.

Critics: Transit plan slights traffic congestion

VIDEO: Light rail test run in Phoenix

A high-capacity transit system would soon be seen as a way to alleviate traffic congestion in Scottsdale, they said.

But as the politics heated up, a consultant’s recommendation favoring light rail, streetcar or bus rapid transit never came.

As the City Council meets Tuesday to discuss the $1.2 million plan — and possibly vote to pursue all or parts of it — it is left with only a suggestion to further study those options along Scottsdale Road from the Tempe border north to downtown Scottsdale.

“It was never something that was going to be dropped onto Scottsdale in the middle of the night,” said Charles Hales, senior vice president of HDR Engineering. “Scottsdale has to choose to advocate for and then pay for it. We never made it quite that clear.”

As the plan was being developed, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce came out in favor of a fixed-rail route, with hints that streetcar may be the option of choice over light rail.

The Scottsdale Citizens Transportation Study Committee was a group of residents and business owners who banded together in opposition to light rail. The Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors also raised issues with light rail. Debates were held by both groups. Out-of-town speakers were brought in.

Even the council had debates before the plan was finished. In the end, four council members wanted to keep the mass-transit issue alive at least through the end of the plan. And within that context, the council agreed that a public vote would be held before selecting any of the three options.

HDR recognized the political nature of the situation and backed away from endorsing any one over the other, say council members and others who have followed the plan’s development.

Instead, the plan recommends further study on all three options and that Scottsdale monitor the performance of the 20-mile light-rail segment through Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa set to open in December 2008.

“With the controversy involved and considerable opposition to any type of mass-transit option going through downtown, it’s not surprising they came back and said it needed to be studied more,” said Scottsdale Councilman Tony Nelssen, who opposes light rail. “I was hoping they would say it should go there or shouldn’t go there. They just punted on that.”

The plan only eliminated two high-capacity transit scenarios. Light rail should not run through Old Town on Scottsdale Road, instead traveling along Drinkwater or Goldwater boulevards. Second, bus-rapid transit should use the left lane rather than the curb lane, which would make it too similar to a traditional bus route.

And those were hardly controversial decisions considering no one — elected officials or business owners — seemed to like the idea of light rail running along Scottsdale Road through Old Town.

Hales — who ran the Portland, Ore., transportation and planning departments as an elected official between 1992 and 2002 — told the council in October during a study session that a light-rail or streetcar system is not needed to relieve congestion through the southern part of the city, but that people will ride it if it’s high quality.

Councilman Jim Lane said he was “floored” by the admission.

“What are we responding to or having them respond to for that amount of money?” said Lane, noting the $1.2 million cost of the overall plan update.

Hales recommends the three transit alternatives be forwarded to the next level of analysis. By doing so, that has set the stage for a future City Council decision on high-capacity transit.

The plan does not weigh in on the logical next step — whether Scottsdale should spend $50,000 to join Valley Metro Rail. That would allow the city to seek participation in an ongoing study about light-rail extensions on Rural Road that right now focus in Tempe and Chandler.

Scottsdale is not in the running for either federal or regional funding, meaning there’s no identified way to pay for any of the three high-capacity transit options. Light-rail construction runs about $70 million a mile and $1.4 million a mile annually to operate; a streetcar about $30 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

Councilman Wayne Ecton said he plans to propose the council spend the $50,000 to have a seat at the table, which is sure to spark another heated debate. “Joining the group doesn’t mean we’re in favor, but there’s an opportunity if something develops that we can take advantage of, and we certainly want to be in that position,” Ecton said.

Two-part series

Sunday: Scottsdale’s comprehensive transportation plan places a greater emphasis on walking, biking and buses than it does on improving vehicle traffic flow.

Today: Politics surrounding light rail kept the city from receiving a strong recommendation on how to proceed.