The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded a $158.1 million construction grant to the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro for the Northwest Extension Phase II Light Rail Project.
The 1.6-mile light rail extension, which will be constructed and operated by Valley Metro, will provide access to the region’s light rail system for communities in north and west Phoenix, Glendale and Peoria. The project will support transit-oriented development in the corridor, including the redevelopment of the Metrocenter Mall site. The extension will link the Metrocenter area to existing regional activity centers including the North Central Avenue office corridor, downtown Phoenix, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and Arizona State University.
The Phase II project will improve transit service in a corridor where 31 percent of the population lives below the poverty level and 18 percent of the households do not own a car. It will also improve connectivity across Interstate 17, which presents a formidable barrier to east-west travel in northern Phoenix.
The project includes three stations, three bridges, a multi-modal transit center, and a parking structure. The total project cost is $401.3 million, with $158.1 million in funding provided through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program.
The light rail line is expected to open in February 2025.
