PHOENIX — The latest addition to the Phoenix area’s light rail system is scheduled to open Jan. 27, officials have announced.
Valley Metro’s Northwest Extension Phase II will add 1.6 miles and three stations to what is currently a 28.2-mile, 38-station system. The extension will include the system’s first elevated station, as well as a rail-only bridge over Interstate 17.
“Three years in the making, the extension is going to breathe life into neighborhoods around the Metrocenter development, accelerate private and public investment in the area, and improve quality of life for Phoenix residents,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallegos said in a press release.
More information on the extension is available here.
A ribbon cutting and community celebration is planned to mark the opening.
Valley carries around 20,000 trips per week day. This could’ve been done with buses for 1/6/th of the costs AND with far greater frequency.
Metrocenter mall was a huge mall when it opened in the early 1970’s had 4 or 5 big anchor stores and dozens of smaller shops and a theater. If you look at Google maps it is a mess right now, looks ripe for re-development.
Former Metrocenter Mall? Is this a ‘ghost mall?’ What will take its place if that is the case. Still, it can be a major plus for ridership to have traffic sources at the outer ends and not just downtown.