Phoenix nixes Capitol light rail extension in favor of Maryvale route
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Katherine Davis-Young for The Washington Post via Getty Images
The Phoenix City Council is putting the brakes on light rail extension to the state Capitol and will pivot to an alternate route to the West Valley, with all eyes on Indian School Road.
Why it matters: The new route could create new opportunities for Maryvale and transform Indian School in the West Valley, but flies in the face of the voter-approved Capitol route.
Driving the news: After hearing hours of comments from dozens of Phoenix residents on Tuesday, the City Council voted 7-2 around midnight to prioritize its Indian School route.
- Only Councilmembers Anna Hernandez, a vocal advocate for the Capitol extension, and Laura Pastor voted against the change.
Context: Pre-existing plans called for light rail to extend from downtown Phoenix to one of three proposed routes through the Capitol area, then to West Valley down Interstate 10, ending at the Desert Sky Transit Center.
- Facing pushback from Republican legislative leaders, the council's transportation subcommittee last month recommended exploring other options, and council members favored a previously approved route that would run west along Indian School from either Central Avenue or 19th Avenue and Camelback Road.
Zoom in: Councilmember Betty Guardado, who represents much of Maryvale, led the charge for the Indian School route, calling it transformational for "a community defined by young families, workers and small businesses, many of whom rely on transit every day."
- Mayor Kate Gallego said Indian School expansion was the council's only viable option, but called it an exciting and historic one that would accelerate light rail extension to a community that's "brimming with opportunity."
- Hernandez argued that Capitol expansion would provide the greatest opportunities for revitalization and respect the will of the voters, while still setting the stage for an extension along Indian School to be completed by 2042.
- She said funding for the alternate route isn't guaranteed and could short-change future projects.
What they're saying: Many Maryvale residents urged the council to back the alternate Indian School route, saying it would revitalize their community, connect it to the rest of the Valley and provide critically needed public transit options.
The other side: Capitol extension supporters argued that the council should respect the will of the voters who backed it, and said light rail along Indian School would devastate small businesses and exacerbate problems from crime and homelessness.
Catch up quick: When Republican lawmakers authorized Maricopa County to hold an election on the extension of a transportation sales tax last year, they included a provision barring the use of public funds to extend light rail to the Capitol's immediate vicinity.
- The council instead planned to run light rail near the Capitol, but not in the prohibited zone.
- Yes, but: That was still too close for House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear) and Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert), who urged the council in a December letter to stay away.
- That prompted concerns from some council members that legislative Republicans could thwart the plans by blocking light rail stations.
The intrigue: Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs' administration urged the council to ignore legislative pressure and move forward with the Capitol extension, arguing that it wouldn't need legislative approval.
- City staff disagreed with that analysis.
What's next: Per the city staff's timeline, construction on the Indian School extension would begin around 2032, with completion expected in 2037.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with information about the timeline for the Maryvale extension.