Since starting in 2008, the Valley’s Metro Light Rail has served Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. The system has been more popular among riders than many had anticipated. An Interstate-10 West extension is on the way, and a central Mesa extension is expected to be operating by mid 2015, but the idea of light rail in Scottsdale has never gained traction.What are the pluses and minuses of the system for a city that is arguably the most attractive in the Valley for tourists, with its plethora of resorts, many along Scottsdale Road?
Former Scottsdale mayoral candidate and longtime community advocate John Washington and attorney James Derouin of Derouin Environmental Law LLC in Scottsdale have two different perspectives.