Valley Metro light rail on June 7 expanded into south Phoenix, Ariz., with the opening of the $1.34 billion South Central Extension/Downtown Hub project, marking its evolution to a 35-mile two-line system.
More than 5,000 community members, along with federal, state, and local officials, gathered to celebrate the completed project that connects the existing light rail system in downtown Phoenix and operates 5.5 miles south to Baseline Road (see map, right; scroll down for full map). The project also includes eight stations with a hub in downtown Phoenix (see map below). The A Line now travels east/west between Gilbert Road/Main Street in Mesa and the Downtown Hub; the B Line travels north/south between Metro Parkway in northwest Phoenix and the new end-of-line station at Baseline Road/Central Avenue. The Downtown Hub comprises four platforms on Washington, Jefferson, Central, and 1st avenues where riders will transfer between the A and B lines.
The South Central Extension/Downtown Hub project also included 18 public art installations by artists who are predominantly local; a new 110-space park-and-ride facility at Baseline Road/Central Avenue; improved bike lanes and pedestrian pathways; more than 550 new trees and desert-adapted landscaping; and utility upgrades that replace more than 30 miles of underground infrastructure, according to Valley Metro.
Weekday light rail service has been increased to every 12 minutes before 7 p.m. and every 20 minutes after 7 p.m.; on Saturdays, every 15 minutes until 7 p.m., and every 20 minutes after 7 p.m.; and on Sundays, every 20 minutes all day. The extension is slated to add more than 8,000 daily riders to the light rail system, which has served an average of 32,000 boardings per day.
Fourteen Siemens Mobility S700s are operating on the extension, according to Valley Metro, which ordered the vehicles in fall 2020.
The Federal Transit Administration in early 2021 signed a $529.8 million Full Funding Grant Agreement for the project under the Capital Investment Grants program; it covered more than half the project’s $1.34 billion budget. Additional funding sources included Phoenix Transportation 2050 and regional Proposition 400 funds. Project planning kicked off in 2012, with design work starting in 2017. Contractor Kiewit began construction in 2019. The project employed more than 5,000 local workers, with 600-plus residents of south Phoenix communities contributing more than 470,000 work hours.
Valley Metro reported that along with the City of Phoenix, it prioritized supporting small, locally owned businesses along the corridor throughout construction with a grant program that provided a total of $1.6 million-plus to some 270 recipients.
“Today [June 7] we are celebrating 5.5 new rail miles and the transformation of Valley Metro Rail into a multi-line operation, creating an important new connection to South Phoenix,” Valley Metro CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller said during the system launch and ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We built this project with the community to achieve their vision, and we will continue to we advance the community’s vision to connect to the West and East Valleys, and bring greater mobility and economic opportunity to more of metro Phoenix. I congratulate and thank the community and our teams for today’s successful opening!”
“The completion of this project marks an important new connection for residents and moves us closer to our goals as a sustainable and accessible city,” noted Mayor Kate Gallego. “This historic extension introduces the region’s first two-line rail system, creates safer streets and new bike lanes, and adds shade and public art—all while connecting more residents to jobs, education, entertainment and other amenities across the Valley. Equally important, it provides a whole new opportunity to showcase the unique offerings of this thriving corridor.”
The celebration was held at three locations—the Baseline/Central Ave Park-and-Ride, Ed Pastor Transit Center, and Downtown Hub—and included a “Cruisin’ Central” community procession with 250-plus community participants, a lowrider and classic car show, family-friendly activities, performances by local entertainers and more than 60 local business pop-ups and food vendors. The festivities culminated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and first rides at the Baseline/Central Ave Park-and-Ride.
in January 2024, Valley Metro opened the Northwest Extension Phase II light rail project, linking Mesa, Tempe and downtown Phoenix. The 1.6-mile extension brought service farther into northwest Phoenix, running west from 19th and Dunlap avenues, going north on 25th Avenue, and then west on Mountain View Road, crossing the I-17 freeway to the Metrocenter area. Phase I of the Northwest Extension project opened in 2016. It expanded Valley Metro light rail 3.2 miles, running north on 19th Avenue from Montebello to Dunlap Avenue.
Join Railway Age and RT&S at a premier event—Light Rail 2025, to be held Oct. 1-2 in Pittsburgh, Pa. This annual conference on light rail transit has been specially developed for transportation professionals in planning, operations, civil engineering, signaling and vehicle engineering. Light Rail 2025 will offer a comprehensive review of the specialized technical, operational, environmental and socio-economic issues associated with light rail transit (LRT) in an urban environment. The conference concludes with a special tour of the Pittsburgh Regional Transit LRT system. Click here to learn more.
