City Council voted and approved many items that pertain to downtown from the light rail to the Phoenix City Code.
City Council approved City Manager Ed Zuercher to enter a contract with Arizona State University.
The contract is to start planning for the new downtown living dorms for ASU students and be able to accommodate more of the student population struggling to find housing downtown. The project is located at the southwest corner of Fillmore Street and First Avenue in Downtown Phoenix.
The council approved the request of City Manager Ed Zuercher to authorize additional expenditures for the acceleration of body worn cameras by the Phoenix Police Department. The authorization of police officers in the downtown area wearing body cameras was issued in February, however, this request authorizes more funding related to this item.
The council also authorized the City Manager Ed Zuercher to enter into a contract change order with Valley Metro Rail on the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub Project.
This project includes a 5.5 mile light rail extension south from Jefferson Street to Baseline Road along Central Avenue in Downtown Phoenix and will include nine additional light rail stations and two park and rides for the residents of Phoenix.
City Council also approved the request to another contract that includes a 1.5 mile light rail extension known as the Northwest Extension Phase Project. This project extends west on Dunlap Avenue from 19th Avenue to 25th Avenue, then northward to Mountain View Road, then to a terminus west of Interstate 17 adjacent to the Metrocenter Mall.
The project will also include three new stations, a new shared parking location, and a park and ride facility for Phoenix.
The request to amend Phoenix City code to increase commercial ground transportation trip fees, establish a process for adjusting trip fees, remove parking-rate caps, and increase civil penalties for unattended vehicles left along the curb of any terminal was approved by City Council.
Representatives from Uber and Lyft attended and spoke about their objections to the request, as well as representatives from airlines. This approved request hopes to better organize pick-up, drop-off and employee parking at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
Contact the reporter at krdyer@asu.edu
