PHOENIX — The Phoenix light rail system has grown by 5.5 miles, and gone from a single route to a two-line system, after the opening of the South Central Extension and Downtown Hub on Saturday, June 7.
The opening of Valley Metro’s seven-station extension southward along Central Avenue from downtown to Baseline Road is projected to add 8,000 riders per day to the 35-mile light rail system, which now features the north-south B Line including the extension and the east-west A Line from downtown to Mesa, Ariz. Previously, the system had operated as a single, L-shaped line.
Opening ceremonies were held at three locations and drew more than 5,000 attendees, along with federal, state, and local officials, according to Valley Metro.
The $1.34 billion extension was funded through federal grants, along with city funding and money from a regional ballot initiative.
“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,” Mayor Kate Gallego said in a press release. “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.”
With the opening of the new route and evolution into the two-line system, weekday train frequencies are being increased to every 12 minutes before 7 p.m. Previously they had operated on 15-minute headways between 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and on 20-minute headways at other times.
“We built this project with the community to achieve their vision,” said Valley metro CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller, “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.”
The addition of the new stops gives the light rail system a total of 48 stations.
Just what I like to see, a light rail peration that efficiently serves many. If you have to spend the taxpayers money, at least try to make it useful and MAYBE even profitable. It would be interesting to see neighboring Tucson, AZ extent their operation cros town on their major man street arteries such as Speedway, Broadway, and/or 22nd Sts. Or maybe even a high speed interurban connection to Phoenix with airport stops.
El Paso, TX is another example where they need to reach out to more remote, but profitable, areas. Once upon a time in the old El Paso streetcar system that was abandoned in the 1970s, they used to connect with Cuidad Juarez Mexico over the International Bridge. El Paso has also restored most of their old PCC street cars for their new literail operation
As they say in the Toyota TV ads, “Let’s go places”, efficently and cost effectively of course.
Good to see the revitalization of light rail all over America, especially as cities look for greener and more efficient ways to move people…
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Does this map indicate that riders will have to make walking connections between the A and B lines. If so how convenient will it be in the hot summer months?