Phoenix's transit tax, Transit 2000, will expire in 2020. City leaders have prepared a 30-year plan for transportation to sell the idea of a renewed sales tax. Now taxpayers will have to decide if it’s the right kind of list for the city's future.
"Months of work have gone into developing the 30-year plan of projects and services that could be funded by extending and nearly doubling a current sales tax," report Brenna Goth. "The plan received a recommendation this week from the Citizens Committee on the Future of Phoenix Transportation and will go to the City Council later this month."
So far, the new transit tax would fund the following, listed directly from Goth's coverage:
- All of the city's current services.
- New RAPID and circulator bus services.
- Light-rail routes that are already approved, including connecting current lines to Metrocenter Mall and the Capitol
- New transit connections, including connecting Metrocenter Mall to ASU West.
- Shaded bus stops for heat protection.
- Reloadable cards to pay your fare.
- Accessibility and security improvements.
- Street improvements.
Goth's reporting also provides an in-depth look at how Transit 2000 fell short of its goals and how much of the new tax could potentially fill that gap.
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