Instead of a freeway, why not invest in mass transit?

A number of days ago we received in the mail ADOT's (Arizona Department of Transportation) "South Mountain Transportation Corridor Study" brochure in which they discuss the Pecos Road Loop 202 extension (aka "E1 Alternative").

With all the recent commentary and angst about high gas prices, air pollution, global warming, traffic accidents and budget deficits I have to wonder why ADOT still has this project on their planning radar.

Their purpose for it is to relieve traffic congestion, provide construction jobs and develop transportation routes for future growth. But its very nature is at odds with critical issues that face the city, the state and, ultimately, our entire world. And it raises several questions that need to be addressed satisfactorily.

How does an interstate highway expansion help reduce air pollution locally? How does it reduce our dependence on foreign or domestic oil that promotes high gas prices and global warming? How does it improve our highways by repeating the same construction formula that's led to a "cancerous" growth in traffic congestion with its attendant traffic accidents and fatalities? Of course, the answers are it doesn't.

Recently, a representative of ADOT said that a "multimodal" study recommended the construction of the Pecos Road Loop 202 extension. That solution makes me wonder at what point ADOT would promote mass transportation in highly-congested areas using the existing highway infrastructure as much as possible over a hugely expensive expansion of it.

No doubt, if there were 10 or 100 times the number of cars on the highway system than there are now, ADOT would have no choice but to pave the entire state! Europe and Japan successfully tackled this issue by building world-class mass transit systems. But apparently this kind of approach is not one favored by our current local and state government, including the agencies that are charged with managing this issue/subject.

Yes, there has been a recent development in mass transit here in Phoenix - the new light rail train system. And there are planned expansions of the outlying park-and-ride facilities. Those developments are encouraging but still take a back seat to plans for new highway construction. Perhaps it has something to do with the influence of lobbyists whose interests nationwide have overridden the public interest in safe, affordable, easy-to-use mass transportation.

Certainly over time, building the Loop 202 extension would not significantly relieve/reduce the rush hour traffic that uses Interstate 10. Most of it is comprised of people commuting to and from work and school in their cars. Its construction would, however, cause a massive loss of existing homes, property values and property tax income so eagerly sought by the city and state.

So, rather than throw away taxpayer money on a new highway project, why not invest in the safe and efficient use of mass transportation? Or, perhaps, convert Pecos Road into a four-lane boulevard that would maintain people's homes and improve access to them?

It's not too late to avoid making a bad decision. Now is the time to make the right one - use Loop 202 extension funds to invest in a better transportation solution. We all win in the end.

Richard Baker lives in Lakewood.