Phoenix City Council faces big decision on light rail extension
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A Valley Metro Rail train. Photo: Laura Segall for the Washington Post
The Phoenix City Council faces a big decision this week on whether to keep a planned light rail extension to the state Capitol despite political pushback.
The big picture: The City Council has long planned to extend the Valley Metro light rail system from downtown Phoenix to the Capitol area.
- Light rail would then extend into the Maryvale area, largely running through the Interstate 10 median before ending at the Desert Sky Transit Center at Thomas Road and 79th Avenue.
Yes, but: When the Legislature gave its approval in 2023 for Maricopa County to put a transportation tax extension on the ballot, GOP lawmakers included a provision barring any public money from funding tracks in the Capitol's immediate vicinity.
- The city planned to instead extend light rail just outside the Legislature's no-go zone.
- Despite that, House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear) and Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) objected, writing last month that they opposed the proposed routes and "must rely" on lawmakers' opposition to light rail extensions "as reflected in their votes."
Driving the news: The City Council is slated to decide Tuesday whether to stick with its Capitol extension plan or find another route to Maryvale.
Threat level: Some have expressed concerns that scrapping the Capitol extension would jeopardize federal grant money.
- Valley Metro CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller tells Axios that grant funding is project-based, so the organization won't apply for the money this year if the extension is canceled.
- But she's optimistic that federal grants would still be available for other projects.
State of play: The council's transportation subcommittee last month voted against endorsing the Capitol extension plan, with several members instead voting to explore alternatives.
Zoom in: That includes Councilmember Debra Stark, who told Axios that she still supports the Capitol extension, but worries that Republican lawmakers could obstruct their plans or even lobby the Trump administration to deny federal funding.
- For now, she said, the city could extend the tracks south on 19th Avenue and run them into the West Valley on Indian School or Thomas roads.
- Councilmember Ann O'Brien will propose an alternative route — previously approved by the council — to extend the track down Indian School, either from Central Avenue or from 19th and Camelback, per chief of staff Derrik Rochwalik.
- The council could still pursue the Capitol extension at a later date.
The other side: Councilmember Anna Hernandez, whose district includes part of Maryvale and would be home to a major segment of the Capitol extension, called on her colleagues to stick with the voter-approved plan.
- "That is why this moment matters. When voters approve major infrastructure investments, our responsibility as elected officials is not to revisit them for political convenience, but to deliver," she said in an op-ed provided to Axios.