PHOENIX, Arizona — With little public attention or fuss, Arizona officials are pushing ahead with plans to bring the city closer to sustainability goals similar to those of globalist organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the United Nations.
In the suburb of Chandler, about 20 minutes south of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, officials are holding hearings on whether to implement a regional transit plan by the county that would create a road diet that would severely limit the lanes available for cars. ing.
The Maricopa County government’s plan, MOMENTUM, will tear down Arizona Avenue in a major two- to three-year construction project aimed at reducing vehicle lanes and foot traffic to local businesses.
The Chandler City Council has scheduled a meeting on May 25 at 6:00 pm on the legislative chamber at 88 E. Chicago Street to allow the public to support or oppose the project.
Road diets involve redesigning city roads with two or more lanes so that they have fewer lanes for motorized vehicles (usually only one lane) and extra road space for bike lanes or mass transit lanes (buses). , mini vehicles, etc.). railway).
Cities have been practicing street diets for decades, but there have been recent moves to push for their expansion, sparking fears among public officials who believe the world is coming to an end soon due to rising global temperatures. there is
As stated on its official website, Arizona’s plan “will fund motor-free transportation infrastructure and continue to invest in alternatives such as ride-sharing and sharing.” [public] This is to help the region “do its part in limiting climate change.”
Earlier this year, urban designer Alexandros Washburn discussed how cities need to “rethink” their relationship with nature, asking planners to “find ways to get around that don’t emit carbon”. urged to go on a street diet.
Aside from the long-term benefits of the road diet, the short-term tradeoffs can be devastating for communities.
Melissa Hamilchon, a former campaigner and grassroots community organizer in Phoenix, said Chandler’s street diet plan would be devastating to the local business community.
“This will permanently shut down many of our small businesses,” Hamilton said in a video posted on Twitter.
I returned to Chandler today to contact a local business and tell them that MAG plans to destroy their beautiful roads and permanently reduce pedestrian traffic with a 2-3 year bus rapid transit project. I was.
I need your help to save a local business pic.twitter.com/pWcvSPcJfb
— Melissa Hamilton ???? ⛽ ???????? (@merissahamilton) May 24, 2023
“Chandler is such a beautiful area. We need to protect the small businesses here and protect the local businesses. That’s why we need your help,” she said, telling supporters stoproaddiets.com to petition local authorities to stop the project.
“There are some calls for action you can take,” she told her followers, calling on locals to attend Chandler’s hearing to register public comment.
“Please support local businesses,” she said. “We have to save Arizona.”
Chandler’s proposed road diet squeezes a three-lane road into a single vehicle lane with bike and bus lanes. This will be a new design in each direction.
According to the latest US Census data, Phoenix is the fastest growing city in the United States, with more than 5 million people currently living in the city’s metropolitan area.
But with the city of Phoenix experiencing a historic surge in new residents, several neighborhoods in the metropolitan area are implementing road diets that reduce road traffic to only one lane and increase traffic congestion in the process. .
City officials recently completed construction of a road diet on the 3rd. Road – A heavily used two-lane road that was essential in easing the flow of traffic for people returning from work and downtown events.
With curb lanes now designated as bike lanes, traffic has decreased significantly and the number of cars on the road has not decreased.
In Scottsdale, city officials are also cutting roads, effectively creating chokepoints in high-traffic areas where demand for road space remains constant, slowing commutes by car and frustrating locals.
The road diet has long been opposed by those who fear that authorities are deliberately making it difficult to travel by car to encourage public alignment with global sustainability goals.
Public statements by elected officials do little to allay these fears.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said, “The old model of being car-centric and having different neighborhoods for different tasks is slipping through our fingers in many ways, whether we like it or not.” said. “We have to have more self-contained neighborhoods. People want to be able to walk, bike, or take public transportation to get to the movies.”
Garcetti made comments in relation to the city’s Mobility Plan 2035. The plan clearly states that the authorities aim to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting more sustainable modes of transportation” in order to reduce “vehicle mileage” driven by gasoline-powered vehicles. It also encourages people to actively choose transportation methods such as bicycles and walking.
Climate change is cited as a need for a road diet plan, but officials advocating for more restrictive road designs still cite data showing the planet isn’t in serious danger from climate. not.
Only 12 percent of the CO2 added to the atmosphere since 1750 has been anthropogenic, and NASA data show that global temperatures have not increased in the last decade, suggesting that industrial-era CO2 Despite a 1,000 percent increase in emissions, April 2023 will be cooler than April 1985.
In Arizona, officials plan to develop multiple other road diets in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, and Mesa.
There are currently multiple public hearings scheduled through June 15.
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