Benefits
This illustration describes the growth for business in Tempe, Phoenix, and Mesa. It is booming since the light rail released in 2008 and is expanding quickly.
This is a local bar on Mill Ave. It represent the booming business in Tempe, AZ
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The light rail gives commuters a low cost way to get to work and clears traffic on the roads. This was the original idea of the Phoenix light rail, but the biggest benefit is economic growth. It has brought money to businesses and increased the price of property. Onnie Shekerjian, a councilman in Tempe, never thought it would bring a "$4 billion economic boost for Tempe" (Shekerjian, 2012). This is incredible a 4 billion dollar boost from 2008 to 2012. The "sales volume tippled in the 3 years immediately" (Kittrell, 2012) after the stations in Tempe opened. Imagine how much it has grown in the past 5 years. It is still improving; in the middle of 2015 its growth hit "8.2 billion" (Toll, 2015). This reveals to Phoenix businesses that it can bring in a profit. Other reports say it brings "strip malls back to life" (Wasu, 2017). This is wonderful because it shows Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix all have booming economic growth. This economic growth occurs near the light rail. Business such as "knowledge, service and retail sectors," have expanded near the rail compared to "automobile-accessible control areas" (Credit, 2017). Although this is common business practice to build on traffic heavy ground. It brings more business to the community and gives people more things to do.
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