South Central Extension

South Central Extension
to 19th Avenue/Dunlap
Washington/
Central Avenue
Jefferson/
3rd Avenue
Downtown Hub
to Gilbert Road/Main Street
Union Pacific Phoenix Sub
Lincoln/
1st Avenue
Lincoln/
Central Avenue
Buckeye/Central Avenue
Salt River
 Pioneer/Central Avenue
 Broadway/Central Avenue
 Roeser/Central Avenue
 Southern/Central Avenue
 Baseline/Central Avenue
Handicapped/disabled access all stations accessible

The South Central Extension is a light rail expansion project in Phoenix, Arizona. It will run from Downtown Phoenix south along Central Avenue to Baseline Road, adding 4.9 miles (7.9 km) and seven stations to the Valley Metro Rail system, while connecting with two park and ride locations.[1] Additionally, this project will form a light rail hub in Downtown Phoenix, between Central and First avenues to the west and east, and Washington and Jefferson streets to the north and south. Also included are new tracks for turn-around / staging purposes at both Third Avenue and Fifth Street for enhanced flexibility during peak service.[2]

Service pattern

Trains along the segment are planned to operate as a new line, originating at Baseline Road and running to the Downtown Hub before interlining with the existing light rail system and continuing north to the terminus at Dunlap Avenue/19th Avenue.[3] An additional 17 light rail vehicles will also be purchased to accommodate the increase in runs.[4]

History

After receiving environmental approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in January 2017,[5] the project entered the design phase. Plans to reduce the number of general purpose lanes on Central from four to two to accommodate light rail tracks were initially met with backlash,[6][7] and the city council's decision to proceed with initial plans prompted groups to initiate a ballot measure aimed at stopping all Valley Metro Rail funding (which ultimately failed).[8][4] Construction began in 2019, with completion expected in 2024.

In 2021, the city of Phoenix began offering financial aid to business along South Central Avenue which had been affected by heavy construction for the project.[9]

References
  1. "South Central (Fact Sheet, Q2 2017)" (PDF). Valley Metro Rail. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  2. "Light Rail Hub Coming to Downtown Phoenix". City of Phoenix. September 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 18, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  3. "South Central Light Rail Expansion Environmental Assessment" (PDF). Valley Metro. Federal Transit Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  4. Wanek-Libman, Mischa (December 7, 2020). "Valley Metro secures $638 million for South Central Light Rail Extension". Mass Transit. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  5. "South Central Extension Step Closer to Reality". Valley Metro. January 12, 2017. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  6. Flaherty, Joseph (June 21, 2018). "Bowing to Protests, Phoenix Will Reconsider South Central Light Rail Design". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  7. Trierweiler, John (June 20, 2018). "Phoenix light rail extension: City to look into design of system". ABC15. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  8. Boehm, Jessica (November 28, 2018). "Phoenix voters may again decide the future of light rail". AZ Central. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  9. Parrish, Madeleine (December 28, 2022). "Small businesses struggle along light rail construction despite financial assistance from Phoenix". AZ Central. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
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