This study examines equity and smart mobility in ten U.S. counties and their central cities to understand the extent that smart mobility services and assets are equitably available, and impact accessibility, employability, livability, and mobility. For this study, “equitable smart mobility” is defined as transportation systems that incorporate technology while increasing access to mobility options, enhancing opportunity in low-income communities of color, and supporting a clean environment.

This report reviews state legislation and interviews waste management coordinators to identify the key challenges and opportunities for improving recycling in Arizona municipalities. China’s 2018 ban on importing recyclables has disrupted recycling programs across the United States. In Arizona, many municipalities are significantly reducing or completely halting their recycling programs, causing some cities to landfill their recyclables. This report recommends Arizona state legislators pass appropriate funding for the recycling grant program, amend recycling programs to allow for joint applications, repeal prohibitions on municipal regulation of auxiliary recycling containers, introduce a tax on products imported in single-use containers, and provide incentives to companies using Arizona recyclables. These policies work to reinvigorate recycling within the state, make Arizona’s waste management systems more cost-effective, and foster new local processing and manufacturing industries.

Asset poor families, those that cannot sustain themselves without income for at least three months or weather emergencies without falling into the safety net, are consistently vulnerable. Arizona seeks to align its economic development, safety net, and education systems to benefit both its citizens and its economy through an asset development framework. Assets reduce the risk of poverty and reliance on the safety-net, break generational poverty, enable people to start businesses and invest in education. This report explores why assets are so important and how social policy has conflicted with asset accumulation, provides evidence of Arizona’s asset-poor environment, identifies potential state policy strategies, and outlines a framework for action for system partners.

This study compares the performance of residential and commercial property sales near fixed-guideway stations with areas without public transit access between 2012 and 2016 in seven regions: Boston; Eugene, Oregon; Hartford, Connecticut; Los Angeles; Minneapolis–St. Paul; Phoenix; and Seattle. Results show that in the seven regions analyzed, residential properties in proximity to public transit performed better than properties farther from public transit, generating higher property values. Additionally, people living near fixed-guideway public transportation have lower annual transportation costs and have access to a greater number of jobs within a 30-minute commute, along with connections to more destinations. This report supports the further expansion of public transit services, along with appropriate land use policies, as a means of propelling development and housing opportunities.

The City of Phoenix has become a model of Lean Governing, demonstrating the benefits of community revitalization when a municipality enables and encourages the work of creative entrepreneurs, small developers, neighborhood leaders, and community organizations. Along the way, it has employed and refined a number of principles and techniques that other cities can use to revitalize their neighborhoods. Phoenix is demonstrating that small projects can lead to big results.

Moving beyond the traditional arguments that good schools and neighborhood amenities impact housing prices, emerging research has indicated that urban form and transportation options have played a key role in the ability of residential properties to maintain their value since the onset of the recession. This analysis investigates how well residential properties located in proximity to fixed-guideway transit have maintained their value as compared to residential properties without transit access between 2006 and 2011 in five regions: Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Phoenix, and San Francisco.

Overview of the city of Phoenix's asset map and economic development strategy.

In accordance with 2007 City Council Resolution # 20519, the City of Phoenix will purchase products and services that have a reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to competing products or services that serve the same purpose, while remaining fiscally responsible. Being fiscally responsible requires the City to consider full life cycle analysis cost of materials.

This ordinance establishes a flexible municipal transit-oriented zoning overlay district. This transit-oriented zoning overlay district is designed to be built upon by further legislation and as such contains easily modified language regarding development requirements. This ordinance establishes zoning and development requirements and restrictions which encourage the use of mass transit and decrease auto-dependency.

This ordinance imposes upon commercial developers in an arid, water-limited climate to provide landscaping water budgets and include a rainwater harvesting plan in their overall permit plan. These requirements require commercial businesses to develop economic infrastructure in an efficient and sustainable way.