Valley Metro Rail in the metro Phoenix, Arizona, area will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 7 to celebrate the opening of the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub light rail.
The project extends rail 5.5 miles into south Phoenix between downtown Phoenix along Central and 1st avenues and continuing south to Baseline Road. It includes a two-line rail system intersecting at the new transit hub.
The area was selected because 44 percent of residents have limited or no access to personal vehicles. The extension is expected to add more than 8,000 daily riders to the light rail system.
“It’s a big day for Phoenix as we celebrate the upcoming opening of the South Central light rail extension,” Mayor Kate Gallego said. “This fresh segment of our transit system will connect thousands of residents to jobs, health care, and social opportunities in downtown and beyond.”
With federal grants covering more than half the project’s $1.34 billion budget, additional funding sources include the voter-approved Phoenix Transportation 2050 initiative and regional Proposition 400 funds.
Work on the project included eight new stations, 14 new trains and a 110-space park-and-ride facility.
“A reality in 2025 instead of the originally planned 2034 opening date, the South Central extension also brings with it new and improved public infrastructure — from great bike lanes and additional shade structures to beautiful artwork along the corridor,” the mayor said.
Valley Metro Rail operates a 66-mile high-capacity transit system in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Chandler.