Valley Metro Northwest Extension Phase II approved to enter New Starts Engineering

March 25, 2020

The approval moves the 1.6-mile light-rail extension a step closer to securing federal funding through the Capital Investment Grant Program.

Mischa Wanek-Libman

A rendering of the Northwest Phase II extension.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) last week approved Valley Metro’s Northwest Extension Phase II in Phoenix, Ariz., to enter the New Starts Engineering phase of the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program.

The approval will allow Valley Metro to begin design and engineering on the project, which plans to extend light rail west on Dunlap Avenue from 19th Avenue, north on 25th Avenue and across I-17 with a terminus near Metrocenter Mall, which is slated for redevelopment. The 1.6-mile project includes the purchase of three light-rail vehicles, constructing a park and ride lot, as well as the relocation of the existing Metrocenter transit center. The project will link Metrocenter to existing regional activity centers such as the North Central Avenue office corridor, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona State University and downtown Phoenix.

The project is intended to improve connectivity across Interstate 17, provide easy access to the region’s light-rail system for various communities in north and west Phoenix, Glendale and Peoria, and support transit-oriented land-use planning in the corridor. Valley Metro says the project brings transit service to a corridor where 26 percent of the population lives below the poverty level and 17 percent of the households do not own cars.

The light-rail extension is scheduled to be open in 2024. According to the project profile on the FTA’s website, the project is estimated to cost $401 million and Valley Metro and the city of Phoenix are seeking $158.12 million through the CIG program. Approval to enter the engineering phase is a step closer to securing federal funding. FTA assigned a rating of Medium-High to the project for Fiscal Year 2021; projects must obtain a rating above Medium to be eligible for funds through the CIG Program.

In 2016, the Phoenix City Council approved accelerating the Northwest Phase II project to open in 2023 rather than 2026. The advancement is funded through Transportation 2050, a 35-year, multi-modal transportation plan approved by Phoenix voters.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.