Manross: No light rail for Scottsdale Road

Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross Thursday came out against light rail on Scottsdale Road and called for a bond issue election next year to finance tourism projects, including a Western heritage museum and a nature center in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

However, some of the proposals, particularly the bond issue, could be a tough sell to her fellow City Council members. Councilman Jim Lane said he wouldn’t rule out an election, but said he needed more information before making a decision.

“I like to focus on core municipal functions,” Lane said. “That’s my primary thing.”

During her annual State of the City speech, Manross called transportation “the No. 1 issue, without question.” But a $70 million-a-mile proposal to build light-rail transit on Scottsdale Road and connect it to a 20-mile system planned in adjacent cities is not the way to go, she said.

Scottsdale has yet to see if light-rail projects in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa will be effective, Manross said. But downtown Scottsdale and Old Town are unique and need to be protected, she said.

“Let there be no question about it, that while I support improved transit opportunities on our signature road, I do not support light rail on Scottsdale Road going through the heart of our downtown,” Manross said.

She said construction is set to begin this summer on a Loop 101 car pool lane between Tatum Boulevard and Princess Drive to handle a bus rapid transit system.

“Coupled with park-and-ride lots and other local transit connectors, (bus rapid transit) can fill an important transportation gap for our work force commuting to and from Scottsdale and help us reduce the number of cars on our local streets,” Manross said.

The city’s transportation master plan is expected to be done this fall, she said, and Scottsdale expects to expand its network of bicycle, pedestrian and equestrian paths.

She touted the success of the city’s photo speed enforcement campaign on Loop 101.

“This initiative has captured the attention of the nation,” Manross said. “Speeding, collisions and injuries were significantly reduced.”

Another of the mayor’s proposals calls for a bond issue election in fall 2008 with proceeds funding infrastructure and tourism projects such as attracting more theater events and funding the proposed Museum of the West downtown.

“Both of these attractions would serve our residents well and bolster our tourism draw,” she said, adding the bond also would pay for the proposed Desert Discovery Center at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

“The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is to Scottsdale what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona,” Manross said. “This educational center will make the preserve more tangible, more accessible and more exciting for everyone.”

Tourism brings 7.5 million visitors to Scottsdale each year with an annual economic impact of $3.1 billion, and the industry provides about 11 percent of jobs in the city, she said.

Vice Mayor Tony Nelssen was lukewarm to the bond issue. “We’ve got bills to pay already, not that I don’t support those projects,” he said.

Other proposals Manross made are intended to address the city’s growing economy and population. One suggestion is to collaborate with Mayo Clinic to pursue a second bioscience research building on Mayo’s Scottsdale campus. The idea is to move from a growth-oriented economy to a knowledge-based one, she said.

“The addition of this center will add momentum to the current research efforts and will further solidify Scottsdale’s position as a leader in the biosciences,” Manross said. Another idea calls for creating five or six districts in the city and drafting community area plans over the next three years to regulate their growth. The plans would be folded into the city’s general plan update in 2011, she said.

The environment was on Manross’ mind, too. She proposed studying ways to make city buildings more environmentally friendly and working with Arizona State University to reduce “heat island” issues to make the city more pedestrian friendly,

Finally, Manross called on the City Council to pass an ordinance eliminating political signs on city streets and on public property, scheduled for a council vote March 20.

Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross’ proposals

• A bond issue election in fall 2008 to finance ideas such as a Western museum, the Desert Discovery Center at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and more theater events.

• No light-rail transit on Scottsdale Road.

• A collaboration with Mayo Clinic to pursue a second bioscience research building on the Mayo campus.

• Study further measures to make Scottsdale municipal buildings more environmentally friendly, and collaborate with Arizona State University to reduce urban “heat islands.”

• Create five or six districts in the city and draft “community area growth plans” for them. The plans will be folded into the general plan update in 2011.

• Pass a sign ordinance eliminating signs in public rights of way.