A proposal for a long-awaited light rail extension south of downtown was passed unanimously in a policy session on Tuesday.
In a statement released after the vote, District 8 Councilwoman Kate Gallego celebrated the adoption of the South Central light rail extension, saying it would have a large positive impact on the Warehouse District.
“We’ll be getting the major benefits of light rail service along the South Central Extension by 2023, 11 years earlier than previously planned, along with a crucial transit link along Washington Street,” Gallego said. “We’ve already seen light rail’s potential in spurring economic activity with more than $8.2 billion in economic activity along the initial 20-mile line.”
The Phoenix Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee recommended allocating $1.5 million for the new spur on Jan. 12.
The original December 2014 plan between Phoenix and Valley Metro had a budget of $3.2 million — $1.6 million from the city and $1.6 million from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant through the United States Department of Transportation, according to Assistant City Manager Albert Santana.
The grant’s purpose is to to conduct preliminary engineering and environmental assessments for the light rail extension, which are currently in progress.
With the additional $1.5 million just approved by the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, the revised budget for the new light rail spur will total $4.7 million, according to the City Council report.
The city will need to show the Federal Transportation Administration that the project is financially, technically and legally ready before federal funds can be used for the project. The city must meet all FTA requirements and pass evaluations before breaking ground.
The South Central light rail extension received national attention last year when it was one of seven transportation projects that were given federal assistance in the transportation department Secretary Anthony Foxx’s Ladders of Opportunity Transportation Empowerment Pilot program.
Another light rail spur along Washington Street was also approved by the vote.
Contact the reporter at Kmlane5@asu.edu.
