Federal budget decisions have caused states across the nation to tighten their transportation budgets, which could spell trouble for two Tempe-area transit projects.
Affected are the 3.1-mile eastern extension of the light rail into Mesa and the Tempe Streetcar, slated to run for 2.6 miles along the Mill Avenue corridor between Rio Salado Parkway and Southern Avenue.
In regard to the light rail extension, the City of Mesa requested $75 million, or about 37 percent of the total extension budget of $200 million, said Hillary Foose, spokeswoman for Metro Light Rail.
The federal government promised $38 million for the project, but with lawmakers struggling to make ends meet, Mesa may never see that money. Under the cuts demanded by a tighter budget, “discretionary spending” is the first to go. This could be in the form of slashed budgets for transit projects across the nation, including Arizona, according to an Aug. 8 statement released by the director of the Congressional Budget Office.
Foose said Metro is thinking positively about receiving the federal money. The Mesa light rail extension was mentioned specifically by President Obama and is high on the priority list to snag whatever money is available.
“We were reassured when it was mentioned in the president’s budget, so we are still confident that we will get federal support,” Foose said. “We know we have a really positive project that deserves federal money.”
Psychology sophomore Hannah Rakestraw agreed.
“As a student who commutes from the East Valley to Tempe for classes, I strongly support the eastern extension of the light rail,” Rakestraw said in an email. “I wish Arizona would put a higher priority on public transportation as it is financially and environmentally conscious.”
The statements are backed up by the facts from federal agencies. On the Department of Transportation’s case profile for the “Central Mesa LRT Extension” the overall project rating is listed as “medium high.”
But even with all the promises, the possibility of federal money evaporating is still a concern in uncertain economic times.
“It’s really hard for us because we don’t know what the federal reaction is going to be,” Foose said. “If we don’t (receive federal funds) the project would not be able to happen on the same timeline.”
Funding for the Tempe Streetcar project, although not slated to begin construction until 2013, could also be at risk. However, Foose said, streetcar projects generally have more options for funding in general.
Federal lawmakers must reach an agreement on the transportation budget on Sept. 30.
Also up for renewal is the federal gas tax, which now sits at 18.4 cents per gallon. If made, the cuts will trickle down to projects like the light rail and the streetcar. Along with the 3.1-mile planned eastward extension of the light rail into Mesa, Metro has more than 40 miles of planned tracks extending into south Phoenix and Glendale.
As of Aug. 31, the plans for the Mesa extension and the Tempe streetcar remain unchanged, and Metro remains optimistic, Foose said.
“We are looking for any and all opportunities to move the project forward,” Foose said. “We will continue to make our case at the federal level.”
Metro will be holding a community presentation on the Tempe Streetcar project Sept. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Tempe High School. Metro will be explaining the route of the streetcar, specific locations of tracks, potential stops, and taking comments and suggestions.
Reach the reporter at clstraus@asu.edu
