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CITY OF |
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CITY COUNCIL WORK STUDY SESSION |
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Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38.431.02, notice is hereby given to the members of the City Council and to the general public that the City Council will hold a meeting open to the public on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, at 2:00 P.M. located in the Subcommittee Room, 200 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona. |
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AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WAS CALLED FOR THIS
TIME AT THE POLICY
SESSION MEETING OF |
THE TIMES LISTED
FOR AGENDA ITEMS ARE ESTIMATED.
ITEMS MAY BE DISCUSSED EARLIER OR IN A DIFFERENT SEQUENCE.
Action Taken:
Vice Mayor Simplot called the meeting to order at
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ESTIMATED |
COUNCIL INFORMATION AND FOLLOW-UP REQUESTS. |
This item is scheduled to give City Council members an opportunity to publicly request information or follow-up on issues of interest to the community. If the information is available, staff will immediately provide it to the City Council member. No decisions will be made or action taken.
Action Taken:
None.
CONSENT AGENDA.
There is no Consent Agenda for consideration this week.
REPORTS
This item is scheduled to allow the City Manager to report on changes in the City Council Agenda and provide brief informational reports on urgent issues. The City Council may discuss these reports but no action will be taken.
Action Taken:
None.
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ESTIMATED 2. |
This report provides the City Council with an update on the I-10
West High Capacity Transit Analysis being conducted by METRO. The I-10 West Corridor is one of the high-capacity
transit corridors approved by the voters in Proposition 400. This briefing will focus on the definition
and evaluation of the alignment alternatives in the Downtown Phoenix/Capitol
Mall portion of the study area.
This item is for information only. No City Council action is required.
Back-up included in Council packet/City Clerk’s Office.
Action Taken:
Assistant to the City Manager Maria Hyatt introduced Wulf Grote, Director of Project Development, and Rick Pilgrim, Project Manager, both with METRO. She indicated they would be discussing proposed transit extensions along the I-10 West corridor.
Mr. Grote began a PowerPoint presentation by reviewing a map depicting a proposed high capacity transit system. He noted that while funding for the transit system was partly provided by Proposition 400, full funding would require continued federal assistance. He then described the anticipated outcomes of METRO staff’s current study, including proposed alignments/routes, transit options, and preliminary station locations.
Deputy City Manager Tom Callow added federal guidelines require METRO to prove that light rail is the best transit alternative.
Mr. Grote stated staff has sought extensive community input, and has also coordinated with various levels of government. He noted METRO staff had recommended high capacity transit improvements in the I-10 right-of-way west of I-17, and had already received approval from the Phoenix City Council, the METRO Board, and the Maricopa Association of Government Regional Council. He then provided an overview of initial proposed alignments, current bus and rapid transit alternatives, and possible light rail options. Mr. Grote added staff hoped to complete the current study by this spring.
Mr. Pilgrim discussed considerations, both technical and community-related, in route definitions.
Ms. Hyatt noted studies have shown that ridership decreases as the number of required transfers increases.
Mr. Callow noted that of the many community considerations listed, coordinating with State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the Arizona Centennial Plan were particularly important.
Mr. Pilgrim reviewed two options for connecting light rail
lines from the I-10 to downtown. He
explained one option involved connecting through I-17, while the other option
would connect via
Councilman Nowakowski asked whether the I-17 options would go through neighborhoods to downtown without any stops.
Mr. Pilgrim replied the first stop after exiting I-10 would
be near
Councilman Mattox asked why, under the
Mr. Pilgrim stated a rail yard was in the way and could not be passed through, forcing the route over the yard.
Councilman Mattox asked whether the light rail would cross
the existing train tracks twice before proceeding down
Mr. Grote responded it would not, noting the current proposal was designed to take passengers near the State Fairgrounds.
Councilman Mattox noted shuttles currently take people from parking lots to the fairgrounds. He asked how many events are held at the fairgrounds each year.
Mr. Grote indicated staff was considering whether or not a stop near the fairgrounds was necessary.
Councilman Mattox asked about the cost of the two proposals.
Mr. Pilgrim indicated the I-17 option would cost less, assuming right-of-way issues could be sorted out.
Mr. Pilgrim then reviewed east-west route alternatives along
Mr. Grote noted one issue was maintaining the view corridor
on
Councilman Mattox suggested considering the use of
Jefferson Streeet, if
Mr. Grote indicated one issue related to the connection
between the current line and the extension.
He stated some right-of-way issues may complicate the use of
Councilman Mattox asked about using
Mr. Grote indicated
Councilman Mattox asked about the concerns of the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO).
Mr. Grote stated the SHPO believes the areas west of
City Manager Frank Fairbanks indicated the City continues to work with the SHPO on route possibilities.
Mr. Pilgrim then described potential connections between
the existing light rail line and the proposed extension. He described one option using
Mr. Grote noted traffic would be negatively impacted by this option.
Mr. Pilgrim offered a second connection option, using
Councilman Mattox asked why the
Mr. Pilgrim noted additional transfers might reduce ridership.
Mr. Grote also indicated the transfer might be too lengthy a walk for some passengers.
Mr. Fairbanks stated the routes had to meet certain
objectives to receive federal funding.
He indicated the
Mr. Pilgrim presented a route option using Adams and Monroe Streets. He stated a two-way, two track route could lower travel time and avoid using streets near the Capitol.
Councilwoman Baier asked whether this option would go through a historic district.
Mr. Pilgrim indicated it would run on the edge of a historic district.
Mr. Callow added this was an option if Washington or Jefferson Streets were not available.
Mr. Pilgrim presented another option along Jefferson and Jackson Streets, which he stated would open up lower downtown areas. He noted it would also be farther from areas of high employment concentration, while also increasing ride time and costruction costs.
Councilman Nowakowski asked about the light rail route possibly going underground at certain points.
Mr. Pilgrim responded going underground causes construction costs to increase dramatically.
Councilwoman Baier asked why the Arizona Centennial Commission had discussed making Washington and Jefferson Streets two-way.
Mr. Grote stated the Commission wanted
Vice Mayor Simplot asked what the next step in the planning process would be.
Mr. Grote stated staff would complete remaining technical steps and then work with the City to make an official recommendation. He added the recommendation would then be reviewed with the community, before being brought back for Council action.
Mr. Fairbanks indicated a final decision could occur in April or May.
Mr. Grote clarified decisions would need to be made on both the alignment and the technology to be used.
ESTIMATED
Action Taken:
Vice Mayor Simplot adjourned the meeting at
For further information, please call the Management Intern, City Manager's Office, at 602-262-4449.
For reasonable accommodations, call the Management Intern at Voice/602-262-4449 or TTY/602-534-5500 as early as possible to coordinate needed arrangements.
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oficina
Councilwoman Baier
Councilman Johnson
Councilman Mattox
Councilwoman Neely
Councilman Nowakowski
Councilman Stanton
Councilwoman Williams
Vice Mayor Simplot
Mayor Gordon