The Phoenix City Council has voted in favor of a West Valley light rail extension along Indian School Road and eliminated plans for a route around the Arizona State Capitol.
The 10-mile Indian School line could be completed around 2042 and is expected to improve development and connection in the Maryvale area of Phoenix.
In approving the Indian School line, Council replaced a two-part plan that would have included a small section around the Capitol and a longer portion along Interstate 10. All the planned routes would have ended at Thomas Road and 79th Avenue.
The Arizona Legislature largely opposes light rail and expressly forbade an extension in the immediate Capitol area. Three plans that had been under consideration would have challenged that opposition. While Gov. Katie Hobbs expressed her allegiance with the westward expansion plans, the Phoenix action now removes the risk of a protracted and expensive legal battle.
The three routes under original consideration had a 1.3-mile portion around the Capitol that then tracked north to Interstate 17 and turned west along I-10 for a total of 10 more miles.
Phoenix officials were tasked with deciding whether to proceed with one of the Capitol Extension, also known as CAPEX, routes or have Valley Metro and City staff draft new alternatives.
In choosing not to pursue CAPEX, the project will forfeit the ability to apply for federal grants that could have covered most of the potential costs, and the timeline for construction will be extended.
Because years of public discussion and planning had gone into the CAPEX route development, Councilmembers Anna Hernandez and Laura Pastor wanted to proceed with the plan.
Even though there was a strong expression of support for the Indian School route, there was also opposition. A coalition of area businesses is worried the lengthy construction period will disturb their operations and could drive them out of business. Similar objections have been raised with previous light rail extensions, and mitigation efforts have met with mixed results. (Source)
