Sustainability issues go hand in hand with population growth, “urban sprawl”. Phoenix continues to see increased population growth and therefore a sustainability issue resulting from that growth is traffic congestion. Having too many cars on the road, cars traveling at slower speeds, and longer travel times than in previous years cause traffic congestion (Frias, 2007). Traffic congestion in Phoenix is ​​observed at a local spatial scale since Phoenix is ​​composed of many suburbs. It is important to look at the history of this problem, as it seems to go hand in hand with urban sprawl. The more extensive Phoenix has become; the more traffic congestion seems to prevail (Frias, 2007). From 1982 to 1999, traffic congestion nearly doubled in all metropolitan areas (Downs 2005). The evolution of traffic congestion has also grown with the dependence on the automobile as the main source of transportation (Downs, 2005). The issue of traffic congestion over the last two decades will be examined temporarily. Traffic congestion is a terrible problem; meets each of the six characteristics to be considered as such. Feature 1: Vague problem definition Anyone who has to commute would be considered a major stakeholder as traffic congestion plays a role in their daily routine, taking time away from their lives, increasing their stress levels or increasing the possibility of being involved in a car accident due to the greater number of vehicles on the road (Downs, 2005). Public officials are another group of stakeholders as they determine what funds and resources should be allocated to transportation issues (Cox, 2000). Residents of Phoenix and its suburbs are affected because public health is at risk due to… middle of paper… I have seen companies go bankrupt during light rail construction and the community itself change as more and more further developments are built. This is a problem that needs to be solved because it affects so many industries. People should be concerned because if they live in Phoenix traffic congestion has a direct effect on their health, their economy and their lives. No one wants to spend more time in their car than necessary, no one wants to breathe in more pollution than necessary, and no one wants to pay rising fuel prices. Many questions still remain regarding solutions to this problem. What is the perfect combination of solutions to solve this wicked problem? How can we reduce car dependence when society is so accustomed to using cars? It's so hot in Phoenix that temperature also has to be a factor when considering transportation alternatives.