Northwest Phase I
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Description
Valley Metro’s Northwest Extension is an expansion of light rail service that will eventually travel to the area near Interstate 17 and Dunlap Avenue. Phase I of the construction project is a 3.2-mile extension that will extend light rail north on 19th Avenue from Montebello to Dunlap Avenue and serve 5,000 riders per day. Construction began in January 2013.
The Northwest Extension include three stations, one park-and-ride and connections to bus service at Bethany Home Road, Glendale, Northern and Dunlap avenues. This extension is scheduled to open in late 2015/early 2016 and will support nearly 20,000 residents and another 20,000 employees. It will serve as an essential means of travel in an area where 14 percent of households are dependent on transit compared to seven percent countywide.
Originally scheduled to open in 2012, the Northwest Extension was placed on hold due to the economic downturn and the completion date was revised to 2023. In 2012, the Phase I of the project received approval to move ahead utilizing capital funds from the countywide Proposition 400 transit sales tax, as well as funds from Phoenix’s Transit 2000. Phoenix is responsible for the operations costs of light rail service that travels in their city.
Phase II of the project will eventually expand light rail service west towards I-17. It is currently slated for opening in 2026. Alternative funding options will be sought to accelerate this phase.
Status
The design phase of the project has been completed and construction activities will began in January 2013. Light rail construction involves work that is mainly performed in or along the street where the service will be operating. The first activity will be utility relocation. Utilities located under the future light rail trackway must be relocated in order to maintain access. The construction contractor, Sundt/Stacy Witbeck Joint Venture, and the utility companies will be relocating several utilities such as water, gas and electric lines.
Next steps include roadway widening, track installation and system and station installation. Once this work is complete, light rail testing will occur. Notifications will be provided prior to the initiation of any construction activity.
Business assistance programs are available and owners or managers are encouraged to participate. To learn more, or to start taking advantage of these programs, click here for the Northwest Extension Business Assistance Brochure.
Schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Utility Relocation | Winter 2013 - Spring 2014 |
| Roadway Widening | Summer 2013 - Summer 2015 |
| Track/Station Installation | Winter 2014 - Fall 2015 |
| Light Rail Testing/Operations | Fall 2015 - Winter 2016 |
Contact
For additional information, to request a presentation or to be added to the Northwest mailing list, please contact Carla Kahn, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 602-744-5552 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
For Business Assistance opportunities contact Gary Flunoy, Business Assistance Specialist, at 602-322-4457 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).