Siena Kaplan
Policy Analyst
Over the past few decades, Arizona’s population has skyrocketed. This population growth has not been matched by public transportation investment, and Arizona’s resulting dependence on cars is hurting the state. The recent surge of support for public transportation in Arizona is a step in the right direction, and the expanded bus service and new Valley Metro light rail are beginning to relieve congestion, reduce our dependence on oil, curb pollution, stimulate the economy, and help to sustain healthy, vibrant communities. This report quantifies the problems Arizona experiences from our dependence on cars and the benefits from public transportation, and outlines a vision for public transportation in Arizona, including 10 public transit projects that would benefit the state.
Policy Analyst
Associate Director and Senior Policy Analyst, Frontier Group
Executive Director, Arizona PIRG Education Fund
Over the past few decades, Arizona’s population has skyrocketed. This population growth has not been matched by public transportation investment, and Arizona’s resulting dependence on cars is hurting the state. High and wildly fluctuating gas prices add to Arizonans’ economic woes, traffic congestion wastes valuable time and energy, and our cars and trucks produce pollution that harms Arizonans’ health and contributes to global warming.
Recently, there has been a surge of support for public transportation in Arizona, and the subsequent expanded bus service and new Valley Metro light rail have been a boon to the state and its residents. The public transit systems in Arizona are beginning to relieve congestion, reduce our dependence on oil, curb pollution, stimulate the economy, and help to sustain healthy, vibrant communities.
Arizona needs a transportation system that meets the needs of the 21st century – one in which public transportation plays a much bigger role than it does today. Arizona should build on the public transit investments we’ve recently made and work to provide all Arizona residents with the transit options they need. To get there, we need to start investing now in critical public transportation projects.
Public transportation helps address Arizona’s economic, transportation and energy challenges.
Our public transit system has not kept up with growing need. Arizona residents drive more miles, spend more on gasoline, experience more congestion, and produce more global warming pollution from transportation than they did two decades ago.
There are dozens of worthy public transit improvements that would give Arizona residents alternatives to the rising cost of driving, reduce congestion by removing cars from the road, save oil and reduce pollution.
A comprehensive transit system for Arizona would include the following representative projects (not in order of priority):
A New Transportation Future for the Sun Corridor
Adding Transportation Options Across the State
To build a 21st century transit system that will accommodate Arizona’s current population and expected enormous growth, the state needs a visionary and comprehensive public transportation plan with a stable and long-term source of funding. Arizona should do the following to address current and future transportation needs:
Policy Analyst
Tony Dutzik is associate director and senior policy analyst with Frontier Group. His research and ideas on climate, energy and transportation policy have helped shape public policy debates across the U.S., and have earned coverage in media outlets from the New York Times to National Public Radio. A former journalist, Tony lives and works in Boston.
Diane directs the policy and campaign priorities for Arizona PIRG. She helped lead members of the Coalition for Transportation Choices advocating for Proposition 104 in Phoenix—one of the boldest investments in public transportation passed in the nation. Diane is the recipient of recent awards from the Phoenix Business Journal, the League of Women Voters of Arizona and the Arizona League of Conservation Voters. Diane was previously the executive director of Illinois PIRG, and an assistant organizing director with the Student PIRGs.