With the $1.4 billion, 20-mile light-rail line from downtown Phoenix southeast to Tempe, Mesa and Chandler scheduled to open in December 2008, most restaurateurs along its first partly completed 8-mile section saw their business pick up in the past few weeks, though less than they would wish, and the three cities advanced their plans to match local bus services with prospective light-rail stations and schedules and to spur ridership by investing in several park-and-ride lots.

‘’It seems like every week it’s getting better and more consistent,’’ said eastside Phoenix teriyaki grill owner Lester Steward. ‘’We’re really hoping that it will pick up even more once the light rail starts.’’

Light-rail system (Metro) officials, reports Arizona Republic writer Jennifer Price, will help merchants along the line in two ways to regain customers lost during the construction since mid-2005.

If the merchants offer a discount to the Metro Max Program, Metro will distribute the discount cards throughout the city to encourage customers to visit these businesses.

In addition, once construction crews finish work on a line section, Metro will distribute fliers advertising that section’s businesses as obstacle-free and easily accessible again.

As to the projected bus system adjustments in Tempe, Mesa and Chandler, reported Arizona Republic writer Kerry Fehr-Snyder earlier, municipal and Metro officials consider them necessary both to extend the light-rail reach and to make it successful.

‘’Basically, we look at the system as being complementary,’’ said Metro spokeswoman Susan Tierney about bus service rescheduling and new park-and-ride lots. ‘’You can’t have light rail without bus. You have to have a system that gets people to the light rail system efficiently.’’—Arizona Republic 8/2/2007