Light rail line into west Phoenix takes step forward
If approved, planned to start construction in 2039-40
Valley Metro workers watch and take pictures as a test train runs on the Northwest Extension Phase II line. That line, which opened in January, marked the first time light rail reached west of Interstate 17 — but only by a matter of feet. The I-10 West Extension line is planned to be the first into west Phoenix, reaching 75th Avenue by 2030. Another proposed line along Indian School Road would, if approved, also reach 75th Avenue with construction starting in 2039-40. (Courtesy Valley Metro)
A new light rail line into west Phoenix took a step closer to becoming reality, though construction is not planned to start for at least another 15 years.
The Phoenix Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee unanimously approved a new light rail line along Indian School Road, including relocating $153 million of the city’s transit funds originally planned for a scrapped light rail line along Camelback Road.
The Indian School Road line still needs approval from the full Phoenix City Council, the Valley Metro Board of Directors and the Maricopa Association of Governments.
If approved, expenditures for the line won’t begin until 2036 for preliminary engineering and more community input.
The Indian School Road line would help improve access into Maryvale and beyond, Valley Metro Capital Planning Manager Marty Ziech told the subcommittee.
“We were looking to enhance local and regional access to major activity centers both within our study area and into Metro Phoenix as a whole,” Ziech said. “We are seeking to improve transit frequency as well as the quality of what’s provided in the west Phoenix area and particularly in Maryvale.”
Other key focuses regarding the route were to help enhance mobility for populations that rely on public transit to get around and to serve an area only served by local buses.
There is already one approved light rail line in development heading into west Phoenix: the I-10 West Extension, which will connect downtown Phoenix to 75th Avenue along Interstate 10. That line began preliminary engineering last year but is not planned for completion until 2030.
The proposal for the Indian School Road light rail line would connect to I-10 West Extension on the west at 75th Avenue and Thomas Road and connect to existing light rail lines at one of two options: at 19th Avenue and Camelback Road or at Central Avenue and Indian School Road. Another option is being considered to extend the route another 1.5 miles west to connect to a growing medical district …
The proposal for the Indian School Road line would connect to the I-10 West Extension on the west at 75th Avenue and Thomas Road and connect to existing light rail lines at one of two options: at 19th Avenue and Camelback Road or at Central Avenue and Indian School Road. Another option is being considered to extend the route another 1.5 miles west to connect to a growing medical district anchored by the Banner Estrella hospital at 91st Avenue and Thomas Road.
Multiple extensive public input processes were conducted during the past few years, helping to narrow 10 proposed routes to one final choice. The public also chose light rail as the preferred high-capacity transit method, as opposed to something like Bus Rapid Transit.
In the additional planned input process in 2036, the public will help decide which end-of-line options to pick as well as details such as station locations and operational procedures.
Though it will be 12 years before that next public input process, Phoenix Light Rail Administrator Markus Coleman said approving the line now will give residents and businesses plenty of notice, as well as any developers hoping to build along the route to ensure anything built is transit-oriented development.
In 2019, Phoenix City Council nixed plans for a light rail route along Camelback Road to 43rd Avenue. Though not on council at the time, Vice Mayor Debra Stark recalled a number of outside circumstances led to the change in plans. Mainly, the city of Glendale decided it would not continue the line. Plans had been for it at least to downtown Glendale if not further to Westgate Entertainment District and the Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium.
Stark also noted that Grand Canyon University was undergoing major changes to its campus and some businesses along the line had come out in opposition.
At the time, council reallocated money planned for that Camelback Road line for street repair. However, it was still future money to be spent years down the line. The money was going to be available for street repair in this fiscal year, but when the city began researching this Indian School Road line, the funds were essentially put on pause. Coleman said there would be no issue for the Streets Transportation Department to change the $153 million back to public transit use as the department had not yet factored the funds into its forecast.
We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Mark Carlisle can be reached at mcarlisle@iniusa.org.
Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.
Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.
Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.
Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.
Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.
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