Voters struck down both Prop 105 and 106 during this year’s special election on Tuesday. The propositions both fell short in overwhelming numbers, with the no vote gaining over 60% of the vote for each proposition.
Also, the Citizens Transportation Commission would have received an annual budget of $25,000 to make recommendations in regards to infrastructure projects.
The Build A Better Phoenix campaign, who supported Prop 105 and 106, argued that Phoenix wasted enough money on the light rail while ignoring other infrastructure problems such as worsening roads.
One of the biggest draws of their campaign was the promise of fixing the roads by diverting the light rail tax approved by Prop 104 to fixing the streets of South Phoenix.
Prop 106, on the other hand, aimed at funding the city pensions by 90 percent and curtailing further spending as a way of maintaining fiscal responsibility, with firefighters and police officers exempt from the cuts.
The proposition itself was complex and not as widely discussed as Prop 105. However, Prop 106 had several sweeping changes if implemented. The bill would also conduct and make an annual budget assessment public. Sal DiCiccio, alongside other proponents of the propositions, argued that Phoenix’s pension debts were too high, and Prop 106 was needed to pay off the pension deficit.
The expansion will connect the downtown area with South Phoenix through Third Ave., McKinley, and Fifth St. down to Baseline. Construction begins in September and is estimated to take three years with its completion in 2023.
Back when Phoenix first approved of the light rail expansion, many business owners, particularly small businesses, worried that the construction would halt or negatively affect their businesses. The ballot initiative came on the ballot because of these fears. But even after the election, these fears persist.
District 7 Councilmember Michael Nowakowski sees cooperation and communication as the necessary next steps following these results.
“I feel for them…you had people who came to meetings saying things like they took a second loan on their home and they are afraid,” said Nowakowski.
Marcos Santana, who is a store owner of “Marcos Printing and Signs” and resident of south Phoenix, is cautiously optimistic about the future of south Phoenix.
“My only worry is construction because three years of construction will slow us down, but I like seeing the light rail extend here,” said Santana.
He also worries about logistical problems like restricted lines and places where cars will have difficulty navigating.
“I know they will have all these restricted lines, and you will have places where cars won’t even be able to get in, and that’s the part I don’t like about the construction,” said Santana.
When asked about what the city will be doing to combat this, Susan Tierney, the communications manager at Valley Metro, reiterated the support that Valley Metro will give to these areas.
“We have a business assistance program that started earlier than ever… we placed a community office along the south-central extension to bring in questions and concerns, ” said Tierney.
As for the impact the light rail expansion will have on downtown, Mayor Kate Gallego sees a new world of possibilities in connecting downtown and South Phoenix.
“We are excited about making our downtown a transportation hub…because of this week’s vote, we will be able to connect multiple lines,” said Gallego.
Now with this expansion, the light rail will go west, south, north and east with downtown Phoenix as the centerpiece.
As a resident of South Phoenix herself, Mayor Kate Gallego wants to ensure a smooth transition going forward. The expansion to South Phoenix stands as a large and hefty endeavor that will change the transportation landscape bringing about sweeping changes to many Phoenicians.
“The South Central light rail line will go to a community that has one of our highest rates of residents without cars, so this is a project that means access to medical appointments, students can get to school, and adults can get to work,” said Gallego.
Contact the reporter at lzambra2@asu.edu.
