HI, Moving from NYC to AZ, HELP!!! (Phoenix, Mesa: employment, transfer)

[ethelsmommy]

Hi, I am a NYC proofreader thinking of moving to AZ (Phoenix area) with family. Will probably try to get AZ certification and teach. Does anyone know if TX certification in reciprocal in AZ? Also, not the world's best driver. How is the public transportation there?

Thanks!

[exit2lef]

I don't know about the teaching credentials, but I'll answer about the public transportation: Valley Metro, the local transit agency, is far better than its reputation. It provides regular bus service along most arterial streets in Phoenix and its inner suburbs. There's also a 20-mile light rail line under construction; when it opens in December of this year, it should be a huge leap forward for public transportation in the Phoenix area.

Nevertheless, the Phoenix Metro Area was mostly designed for the car, rather than the pedestrian. That means a few things:

-- You will find sometimes that a bus can drop you off within half a mile of your destination, but you'll have to finish your journey by walking in an area without sidewalks. That's true of my current office building, explaining why I drive to work five days a week despite being an avid transit supporter.

-- The grid layout of streets in Phoenix works both for and against transit. The helpful part is that the grid ensures a clear, easy-to-understand network of routes. The unhelpful part is that because all streets are perpendicular, some journeys require transfers that would not be necessary if there were more diagonal routes.

-- Employment is very decentralized in the Phoenix area. There is no guarantee that your employer will be situated in Downtown or a major business district. You could just as easily find yourself in a suburban office park.

-- Transit service levels vary depending on the level of funding in each municipality. Phoenix and Tempe enjoy the highest levels of service because they fund transit most generously. Inner suburbs such as Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Chandler have intermediate levels of service. Many outer suburbs have no transit service at all.

-- Transit usage is somewhat stigmatized here. You may find that some coworkers, neighbors, etc. assume that you are broke if you choose to use transit. That's beginning to change due to high gas prices and will probably change even more once rail service starts. People who won't set foot on a bus are often willing to ride a train.

Bottom line: If you choose to use transit, make sure that you live in Central Phoenix or Tempe. Try to find an employer in the same areas. If you feel at all comfortable driving, own a car if only to use it for grocery shopping and other activities that are difficult to accomplish via transit.