First I want to thank all of those who have taken time to read my blog. Fourteen months after its inception another milestone of over 115,000 reads has occurred. I am constantly amazed and very grateful for your support.
Houston,Glendale has a problem. In November of 2001 there was a Special Transportation Election held in Glendale. It would amend Chapter 21.1 of Glendale’s City Codes and become law. Voters passed the ordinance creating one half of one penny in a sales tax increase expressly for the following uses:
- Intersection improvements
- Street projects
- Extension of existing bus service
- Increased Dial-A-Ride service
- Express bus service
- Regional light rail connection
- Pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects
- Airport projects
- Safety improvements
If you look at the illustration below entitled #3 Specialized Transit Service there is a map that was published within the ballot. There is also specific language underneath the illustration that reads as follows, “Light Rail in Glendale will extend from 43rd Avenue to Downtown Glendale and will be based on arterial streets, but will not be located on Glendale Avenue. Construction of light rail in Glendale is subject to completion of a light rail connection in Phoenix.”
There appear to be three specific, voter approved ratifications that have been law in Glendale since November, 2001. One, light rail must be sited on an arterial street, i.e., Northern, Glendale, Bethany Home or Camelback. Two, light rail cannot be placed on Glendale Avenue. Three, light rail may not be sited in Glendale until Phoenix has light rail to Glendale’s border.
At city council’s last workshop there was a presentation by Valley Metro. Based upon their preliminary planning Valley Metro has eliminated consideration of Northern Avenue or Bethany Home Road. That leaves only Glendale Avenue and Camelback Road for further consideration of some form of mass transit, whether it be light rail, rapid bus transit or modern streetcar.
If there is to be further consideration of Glendale Avenue.There is a legal problem in that the 2001 transportation election changed Glendale’s City Code, its laws. Until the City Code section pertaining to light rail is again amended light rail cannot be placed on Glendale Avenue. The relevant section of City Code may be amended in one of two ways. City Council can approve any amendment to the City Code by a majority vote at its regular council meeting or there can be another special election and the voters can approve an amendment to City Code. Should there be a recommendation by Valley Metro to site light rail along Glendale Avenue; a majority of city council will have to amend City Code to allow it to happen.
This is what happens when a city loses its talented, experienced personnel with historical memory.
© Joyce Clark, 2014
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I remember all this happening but are you saying that the council can actually change it WITHOUT voter approval after the voters approved it? That surely can’t be legal! If they put light rail on Glendale Avenue it would KILL all the small businesses. The street is not wide enough! Last I had heard that regionally it would go west and along the 101 corrider somewhere. Thanks for the “old” details!
Yes, council can amend any portion of the Glendale City Code by a majority vote. Valley Metro is looking at three possible forms of transit: light rail, rapid bus transit and modern streetcar. They are looking at Glendale Avenue and Camelback Road. They are not looking at the I-10 or Loop 101. No matter what form it takes or where it is sited it will be a minimum of ten years before we see anything.
Joyce..
Do you recall the reasoning behind eliminating Glendale Ave. as a corridor in the first place? I could see lack of width through the downtown core as one reason, and disruption of events held there during construction as one other. But other than that, it makes more sense to use Glendale if you eventually push out to Westgate.
Tom Eggleston was on city council and its Vice Mayor for many years when the issue first surfaced. He owns a large amount of property in downtown Glendale and was adamantly opposed to any form of disruption of Glendale Avenue. I agree that Glendale Avenue is the right choice for many reasons only one of which is that it will become the catalyst to finally cause the redevelopment of Glendale Avenue…not a bad thing…
Definitely not a bad thing….. and now according to an AZ Republic article from yesterday (5/15), I guess CM Knaack is also opposed since her business is situated on Glendale.
You are correct. When she ran to replace Tom Eggleston she received his endorsement. That would not have been forthcoming unless she shared his position on that issue. She does, indeed, own a business and the building on Glendale Avenue.
And we wonder why we have a problem in Glendale today. Special interest rules the nest. I have seen many plans from Dr. Terry Johnson that shows how it can work if we wanted it to work. This plan light rail for Glendale will never happen because we will not get the cooperation of phoenix and the region to put that much money into Glendale a failing city. We would be lucky if we can get the money ($400 million) need to finish a much more important regional connection “Northern Parkway”. And when I say finish the parkway I mean connect it to the 101 not Grand Ave as planned.