Rising Phoenix

The city we live in is experiencing a massive amount of change. Hundreds to thousands of people are moving here daily, with no signs of stopping. While Phoenix has shown to be able to adapt to change, it’s time for something bigger, something more symbolic of the change that the world is trying to achieve. Many of the current problems Phoenix is facing are interconnected, leading to possible solutions that would alleviate multiple issues at the same time. The housing crisis due to the mass migration into the state is attempting to be solved by creating single-family housing developments throughout the valley, not only spreading out people away from the economic center of the state and region as a whole but also contributing to the much more significant issues of pollution and resource overuse. The farther workers are from their jobs, the more likely they are to need cars, creating an increasingly stagnant transportation system that a combination of projects can only solve to expand public transportation and housing policies that aim to rid people of their need for cars. As of right now, the valley light rail system has routes from Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. While these routes greatly help the transportation issue, many of the biggest cities in Arizona, located in the Southeast Valley, are completely cut off from any form of public transportation besides the public bus system. Furthermore, the Arizona state government is allocating resources to expand roads and freeway systems, only compounding the problem and encouraging the average citizen of this region that cars are the only means of transportation. The unprecedented influx of people into Phoenix has brought about several interconnected issues that need to be addressed if the city is to thrive sustainably. While it is commendable that efforts are being made to alleviate the housing crisis by constructing single-family housing developments, the approach is not holistic and is contributing to more significant problems like pollution and resource overuse. The city’s economic center is also being spread out, leading to more people needing cars to move around and ultimately clogging up the transportation system. To achieve sustainable growth and development, the city needs to take a more comprehensive approach that considers all these issues. The further workers are from their workplaces, the more likely they need cars to move around, leading to congestion and pollution. The city needs to embark on a combination of projects to expand public transportation and housing policies that aim to rid people of their need for cars. The valley light rail system has been effective in connecting Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa, but several populous cities like Chandler and Gilbert are entirely cut off from any public transportation system, besides the public bus system. These cities need to be included in the light rail system expansion to make it easier for people to commute between them and other parts of the valley without cars. This would significantly reduce congestion, improve air quality, and lead to more sustainable growth. In addition to transportation, the housing crisis needs a more comprehensive approach. The construction of single-family housing developments throughout the valley has resulted in the city’s economic center being spread out, leading to a need for more affordable housing close to jobs. This has resulted in people living further away and relying on cars to move around, exacerbating the transportation problem. The city needs to focus on constructing high-density housing close to workplaces, retail centers, and public transportation hubs. This would allow people to live close to where they work, shop, and have fun, reducing their dependence on cars. The Arizona state government’s allocation of resources to expand roads and freeway systems is counterproductive and unsustainable. It only encourages the average citizen of the region that cars are the only means of transportation, perpetuating the transportation problem. The state government should instead focus on investing in public transportation infrastructure, including light rail systems, buses, and bike lanes. This would improve the public transportation system’s efficiency and make it a more viable alternative to cars. These steps would make it possible for the city to achieve sustainable growth, reduce pollution, and stay a center of innovation and expansion in the American West.