The O’Neil Associations/ASBA Economic Indicators Monitor asked 3,000 Arizona small businesses whether they would be likely to ride Metro Light Rail when it becomes available. A majority (57%) indicated that they are either very unlikely (41%) or somewhat unlikely (16%) to use it. The potential usership among this group, however, is considerable. Fully 35% said they are at least somewhat likely to use it. This includes 13% who are very likely to use it and 22% who are somewhat likely to use it.
The poll’s director, Dr. Michael O’Neil commented, “Obviously, the potential usership of the system is constrained by its currently limited geography. A perhaps more significant obstacle however, is a psychological one: Phoenix has always been an automobile-centric community and convincing people to use light rail involves crossing a psychic barrier. How, and under what circumstances, users will respond to the actual availability of light rail remains to be seen, and will of course depend on the totality of riders’ experiences. In addition, the accessibility and availability of parking spaces near the point of origin and appropriate transportation or proximity at users’ destinations will be important factors. It will be interesting to track the changes in these figures once light rail actually becomes available later this year.”
Downtown Voices Coalition 