Central Mesa

The Locally Preferred Alternative or LPA for the Central Mesa corridor project has been identified after more than two years of detailed study. The LPA recommends extending light rail on Main Street to Mesa Drive by 2016. This project is funded by Proposition 400 regional sales tax revenue and a federal grant that will be applied for by METRO.  The LPA was approved by the Mesa City Council in May 2009 and by the METRO Board of Directors in June 2009.

In addition to the LPA, the study revealed another recommendation that was approved by the Mesa City Council and METRO Board.  As other funding becomes available, a more natural end point for light rail would extend to Gilbert Road.  Gilbert Road provides greater regional transit connections and a more significant opportunity for a park-and-ride facility. 

The recommendations result from a study conducted by METRO and the City of Mesa analyzing potential high-capacity transit corridors in the downtown Mesa area and east to Power Road. The study area boundaries were Dobson Road to the west, Power Road to the east, University Drive to the north and the U.S. 60 Freeway to the south. Extensive technical data was gathered along with community input to help determine what route and transit technology would best serve Mesa and the region.

The Main Street alternative proved to have the lowest cost and highest ridership of the light rail alternatives. Other factors that made this alternative the best choice were: closest proximity to major downtown Mesa activity centers, least impact to property, minimal utility relocation, maintains on-street parking, minimizes travel times, and greatest future growth potential for the area.

The study and planning efforts were consistent with the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan with a scheduled completion of 2016. This project is also in compliance with the requirements of the federal transit planning process needed to qualify for federal funds that can be used to design and build these projects.

Any additional extensions, or any changes to the extensions already included in the Regional Transportation Plan must go through a process outlined in state statute (ARS 28-6353). The process calls for proposals to be considered by local, county, regional and state agencies and will include representation from elected officials, business interests and citizen groups. Any changes to the Regional Transportation Plan must also be approved by the Maricopa Association of Governments.