Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is your business! Insights into business owner engagement for Phoenix BRT
Businesses are at the forefront of BRT’s vision, planning and development of the 35th Avenue Corridor.
Phoenix BRT Team
April 9, 2025
10
| Myth | Fact |
| Businesses have not been notified of this project. | The City has made concerted efforts to reach the public and business owners through all phases of outreach since December 2020; summaries of those efforts and notifications can be found at MeetPhoenixBRT.com. All information gathered from both residents and businesses will be considered during the planning, decision making and design phases of the project. Project design will begin later this year (2025) and is anticipated to be completed in 2028, with continued outreach and engagement occurring throughout the design process and beyond. |
| The City is not listening to business owners’ concerns. | Three rounds of public outreach have been conducted since 2020, each lasting several months. In each round, community and business input has been used to guide next steps and decision making throughout the phases of the project. During the most recent round of public outreach in February and March of 2025, the City held specialized events entirely for business owners. The project team focused on sharing the potential impacts of different lane options and how businesses and the community might be impacted by each option. The BRT team is available to meet individually with business owners to discuss the overall project, listen to business owners’ concerns, and work on site-specific plans. Every opinion matters! |
| The City doesn’t understand the impact BRT will have on businesses or value business owners’ opinions. | The City values every business along the corridor and is working to develop solutions that limit impacts to businesses and the community as much as feasible. When a major project like BRT is introduced and implemented into a community, there are valid concerns to consider. Every opinion matters. The City will not only consider possible impacts to area residents and businesses, but also proactively work with community members to avoid or mitigate any impacts. Once a lane option is chosen, the project team will continue working with residents and business owners to determine how BRT will operate and fit into the roadway, while limiting business and property impacts. Input from businesses is critical during this phase and future phases, so we encourage business owners to sign up to our email list, attend events and learn more at MeetPhoenixBRT.com. |
| The City has no plans to support businesses along the BRT Corridor. | As a part of the overall BRT Program, the City will focus on creating and implementing a business assistance program that addresses business concerns and provides real relief for potential construction impacts. As demonstrated by other complex, urban construction projects, businesses’ primary concerns include: » Revenue loss during construction. The City could consider a variety of loss-offset programs, such as direct grant funding or specialized loan programs that would be promoted to businesses, along with more traditional assistance elements like sponsored marketing and events, free professional business consulting, specialized signage, and customer communication tools. » What impacts to expect, and when. Businesses will need clear, consistent information about what to expect in terms of disruption, e.g., traffic restrictions, driveway impacts, and noise levels. A communication plan will be developed, including detailed schedules, about construction and anticipated impacts and impact mitigation. For example, noise monitoring and mitigation plans put into place, or how business access will be maintained. » Who to contact and where to find information. The project team will coordinate to clearly identify and maintain consistent project contact(s) and business resource repositories; for example, a dedicated website/ webpage. Additionally, a business working group may be formed to assist in crafting the business assistance program and providing input and feedback on business assistance program elements and construction phasing, traffic management, and other plans. As we finalize Phase II of the business outreach, we will be able to better determine the exact needs and approaches, such as these working groups, for future business engagement efforts. |
| BRT is not very different from Light Rail Transit (LRT). | Both BRT and LRT are designed to improve urban mobility and reduce congestion. By investing in both, the City can offer residents a more reliable, convenient, and sustainable way to get around. The main difference between the two is LRT operates as a train on a fixed track on a concrete guideway, while BRT operates as a bus integrated into traffic on its own dedicated lane. As such, the construction impacts and timelines are very different. BRT typically results in less disruption because it does not have a concrete guideway and overhead wires like LRT. It is also more flexible in terms of the location of BRT infrastructure, which can lead to reduced construction impacts and shorter timelines. |