Dear mayors: Tend your city

The Arizona Republic
Apr. 28, 2006 12:00 AM  

It is understandable why the three East Valley bedroom-community mayors would try to spin the benefits of "freeing" Ahwatukee citizens from the "stigma" of living in the world's largest cul-de-sac (Republic, April 20).

After all, Chandler has identified the Santan Freeway as its "commercial corridor" and undoubtedly would like to see that continue on west through our residential neighborhood all the way to Los Angeles.

The three mayors - Keno Hawker of Mesa, Boyd Dunn of Chandler and Steve Berman of Gilbert - don't seem to understand why, as Hawker noted, the state Department of Transportation is the only one making any arguments in favor of the proposed South Mountain Freeway. Well, Mayor Hawker, only ADOT wants it because it is a bad idea that doesn't make sense. 

Having lived in Ahwatukee for over 20 years, I must say no, thanks, to these outside politicians who want to explain to me how I would benefit. As Republic reporter Corinne Purtill reported after her three-day walkabout in the community (Republic, March 15), the beauty and tranquility are irresistible and the "road to nowhere" image is embraced by loyal residents. We like it. We enjoy sharing Pecos Road with competitive cyclists and getting our exercise by hiking into South Mountain Park.

The bedroom-community mayors say Ahwatukee property values will go up if the freeway is built. That doesn't have much credibility, given the lower property values in their communities. Thanks to the dedication of the Ahwatukee Village Planning Committee and an excellent school system, values in our community have held strong, thank you.

New growth induced by extending the freeway through the community, outside of the planning and zoning purview of Phoenix, can only depress property values and increase crime. As The Republic has noted, Interstate 10 is now a preferred fast getaway route for criminals. There is no reason to believe that extending the Santan Freeway wouldn't simply move crime further into the heart of Ahwatukee.

To illustrate improved travel times, the mayors really had to make a stretch - Metrocenter, Goodyear Airport, Williams Gateway Airport.

Come on, guys. Whatever happened to living and working in the community? You might just as well have talked about commute times from Surprise to Los Angeles. Having driven I-10 for 20 years, I can tell you that it is the pingpong, lane-changing zone between the U.S. 60 on-ramp and the Broadway curve that backs up traffic during rush hour. Two billion dollars to improve that problem would do more for our commute times than would any truck bypass through our residential community.

So, to the three mayors, I say please don't worry about my stigma. Hoe in your own pickle patch. To ADOT, I say I am sorry that you are lonely in your myopic quest to build a freeway through my community, but please take a fresh look at what $2 billion would accomplish elsewhere. Please don't start building a 10-lane monstrosity through my community and then skimp on mitigation when costs soar right past the $1 billion you budgeted and the $2 billion you now estimate. After all, there is more to quality of life than concrete.

Biff Hoffman is a resident of Phoenix.