By Erick O’Donnell | Special to Ahwatukee Foothills News
Valley Metro and Tempe officials reassured residents concerned about the costs and consequences of the city’s planned streetcar system at an occasionally contentious question-and-answer meeting on Monday, Dec. 1, at the Tempe Transportation Center, saying the project would be an economic boon and sometimes defending it to a few sharply skeptical questioners.
Though most attendees were merely concerned or curious, a few differed passionately with the officials over the economics of the project. Steve Stewart said a rail system was too inflexible to serve the shifting needs of a community. Calling the project the start of a “debt cycle,” he asked what benefits the city would see.
