“Transportation 2050” is an ambitious multi-year plan created by Valley Metro and approved by the Phoenix city council to improve existing transportation systems, like the Valley Metro Rail.
The South Central/Downtown Hub is one of Valley Metro’s most ambitious projects. The plans include more than eight new stations and five and a half miles of rail track currently under construction.
Still, many business owners around the downtown Phoenix area, especially the ones on CityScape Mall, are gravely affected by the light rail construction.
Peter Baray, the manager of the Mexican bar and grill Chico Malo, spoke on how construction outside the restaurant poses serious issues. One instance he noted was tampered electrical lines that caused the restaurant’s fire alarms to go off.
“We’ve had to comp so much stuff in the restaurant because you don’t want to dine with a giant fire alarm going off,” Baray said.
In addition to the fire alarm trouble, Baray explains that he has to routinely replace his AC units due to the large amounts of dust from the construction.
Yet, perhaps the biggest problem facing the CityScape businesses is the displacement of foot traffic. The roads and walkways around the construction are constantly changing, making some places difficult to reach.
Diane Tolentino, manager at Trapper’s Sushi across the street from Chico Malo, explained how the construction had disrupted the flow of customers.
“Especially with the closure of the sidewalks, they don’t really know (how) to get to our business, and sometimes it’s harder to see if we are open or closed.”
Madeline Phipps, a public information specialist for Valley Metro, does not anticipate the lack of foot traffic and disruptive construction to be a problem for much longer. Phipps believes that the hardships that these businesses are facing will soon come to an end.
“We certainly recognize that light rail construction is challenging for business owners, residents and other project stakeholders. The good news is that the project is more than 50% complete. The first part of light rail construction—utility relocation—is the most disruptive, so we are making progress in getting through that part.”
In collaboration with the city of Phoenix, Valley Metro offers up to $9,000 for businesses that qualify for their relief program.
Phipps explained that Valley Metro offers “special events, customized signage, marketing/social media assistance, a community program encouraging residents to shop local, and accounting/financial planning.”
It has yet to be determined how the $9,000, the special events, or customized signage will help businesses struggling with light rail construction. However, neither Tolentino nor Baray were aware such a program existed.
But the longer the construction takes, the longer one of Phoenix’s most diverse strips of businesses will financially suffer.
Contact the reporter at dgrowney@asu.edu.
