The compromise measure to put a renewal of the Maricopa County Proposition 400 half-cent transportation sales tax before voters for approval excludes funding for major additions to the Valley transit system. This leaves the planned $400M Mesa extension of the Tempe Streetcar system in limbo.
Leaders in Mesa and Tempe say they have not given up moving forward with the project and are considering new funding options.
Under the previous Proposition 400 plan, Mesa and Tempe would have received $190M for the project and another $113M of outside matching funds.
The two cities joined with project owner Valley Metro in March to examine ways to extend the streetcar line on their own. Tempe officials say that effort is still in the early stages of examining the idea’s feasibility and potential timeline. They do not yet know how, or if, they will be able to make up for the lost Prop 400 funding.
Mesa officials have said they are continuing to move forward with planning, even though new funding sources must now be identified. They are particularly looking at federal funding options, but those opportunities are nationally competitive and often require matching funds.
Tempe has a local tax in place for transportation upgrades. Mesa officials have said that may be an option worth considering but that it is not currently on the table. (Source)
