USA: More than 5 000 people attended celebrations marking the opening of Valley Metro’s 8·9 km South Central Extension/Downtown Hub light rail extension in Phoenix on June 7.
The extrension runs south from Downtown Phoenix Hub to Baseline Road along Central Avenue and 1st Avenue. It adds eight stops, a 110-space park-and-ride site, cycle lanes, pedestrian paths, more than 550 trees and landscaping designed for desert conditions.
With the opening of the extension the network has been split into a Line A running east-west and a Line B running north-south, with an interchange at the Downtown Phoenix Hub.
Federal grants covered more than half of the $1·34bn cost of the extension, which was designed by AECOM and built by Kiewit. Siemens Mobility supplied a further 14 S700 light rail vehicles to augment 11 ordered in 2017.
‘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’, said 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.’
The extension is expected to add more than 8 000 daily riders to the light rail system, which currently carries an average of 32 000 journeys per day.
‘Arizonans understand that these infrastructure investments make us more connected and more prosperous’, said Congressman Greg Stanton. ‘As we now look westward for future light rail expansion and anticipate the extensions of the streetcar line in the East Valley, we’re in a magical moment in Phoenix’s history, and we can only keep up this momentum if we keep investing in ourselves.’
