Changing demographics and transit demands in the Phoenix area are causing transit planners to rethink where the region's light rail system should expand.
"Preliminary studies show that sufficient demand will exist for light rail to succeed on 44th Street, Camelback Road, south Central Avenue, Bell Road and other routes not previously planned, building a web far more expansive than what is currently envisioned.
Officials at the Maricopa Association of Governments, Arizona Department of Transportation and Metro say the conceptual routes are not intended to replace the voter-approved plan for 57 miles of track. But early findings support leading transportation figures who say the Phoenix region has a historic opportunity to rethink light rail's role - and maybe change some original routes."
Political leaders are hoping to piggyback on the federal enthusiasm for transit projects by thinking big about the future of their system. Though much of the newly proposed expansions have not been set in stone, transit officials are hoping to broaden the scope of the area's light rail.
FULL STORY: Arizona planners envision new role, routes for light rail
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research