Phoenix City Council Could Shift Transportation Funding From Light Rail to Streets

"The Phoenix City Council took the first step to postpone — and possibly kill — future light-rail projects," reports Jessica Boehm.

At stake is more than $30 billion approved by voters in 2015 to fund bus, light-rail, and street investments, "but some council members have complained that too much money has gone to public transportation as city streets crumble," according to Boehm.

While this initial decision only begins the research process of how the city would shift its transportation funding priorities. A later vote by the council would be necessary to divert the funding. "Only light-rail projects that have not yet entered the planning stage, like the line that would connect to Paradise Valley Mall, are included in this research request," according to Boehm.