METRO Milestones

September 1996
Tempe voters approve a permanent half-cent sales tax dedicated to transit.

Major Investment Study initiated for light rail starter line.

March 2000
Phoenix voters approve a four-tenths cent sales tax increase to fund transit over 20 years.

November 2000
Final light rail alignment approved.

September 2001
First property purchased for the light rail system at Camelback Road and Third Avenue.

December 2001
Tempe City Council approves concept for light rail bridge over Tempe Town Lake.

January 2002
Vehicle design concept unveiled to public.

April 2002
During subsurface utility engineering work in Tempe, workers find several pieces of bone and broken pottery identified as 700-year-old Hohokam remains. Workers also discover an irrigation tunnel under the Union Pacific Railroad that was built in the 1800s.

October 2002
METRO, the agency that will design, build and operate the Valley’s light rail system is formed. METRO is an Arizona nonprofit corporation formed by the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Glendale.

March 2003
METRO board approves “cool screen” station design. Design incorporates multiple shading and cooling elements.

April 2003
Public “Name the Train” campaign begins generating more than 7,000 submissions, including 3,400 individual names.

November 2003
Groundbreaking for the reconstruction of an access bridge over the Grand Canal at 48th Street leading to the Maintenance and Storage Facility.

December 2003
METRO approves a $115 million contract with a joint venture between Japanese manufacturer Kinkisharyo and the Mitsui Company to produce 36 vehicles for the Valley’s light rail system.

The name METRO chosen as the new operational name for the system in a “Name the Train” contest.

METRO hires Rick Simonetta as CEO. 

March 2004
Vehicle paint scheme and logo are approved. 

October 2004
Groundbreaking for Maintenance and Storage Facility.

November 2004
Maricopa County voters pass Proposition 400, which provides funding for additional transportation improvements Valleywide, including 27.7 miles of light rail extensions to the planned system.

January 2005
Full Funding Grant Agreement signed, providing METRO with $587 million in federal funding for the 20-mile starter segment.

February 2005
Groundbreaking event held at Tempe Beach Park, future site of the Tempe Town Lake light rail bridge. Official kickoff of construction for the light rail line sections.

November 2005
Design of METRO prototype vehicle unveiled by the mayors of the three cities.

February 2006
METRO board authorizes purchase of 14 additional light rail vehicles under its contract with Kinkisharyo, bringing the METRO fleet to 50.

March 2006
The first 200 feet of light rail track is installed near the Phoenix/Tempe border at Washington and 56th streets.

December 2006
METRO takes delivery of its first light rail vehicle. The vehicle is shipped in four pieces atop four flatbed trucks.

Tempe Town Lake Bridge is illuminated for the first time at the APS Fantasy of Lights boat parade event. More than 20,000 attendees—triple the event’s usual attendance—turn out to see the five-minute light display that kicks-off the parade.

February 2007
METRO unveils its first fully-assembled vehicle.

March 2007
Structural steel is erected on the first METRO station at Van Buren Street and First Avenue.

Vehicle testing begins on the METRO test track, a one-mile section of the alignment on Washington Street between 48th and 56th streets, when engineers use a Brandt car-mover to tow LRV 101 along the tracks.

October 2007
First station art installed at the First Avenue and Jefferson Street station. Artist Stephen Farley’s “Downtown Justice” features terrazzo commemorative discs honoring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and former Lewis & Roca managing partner John Frank, the attorney who argued the Miranda case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

April 2008
Completion of final guideway concrete pour creating 20 miles of continuous track.

September 2008
Testing completed on all 20 miles of track. First class of METRO vehicle operators begin training.

October 2008
Light rail vehicle testing reaches the Phoenix end of line at Montebello/19th Avenue.

November 2008
Vehicle testing occurs across all 20 miles.
The Northwest Extension completes 95% design review with the stakeholders along the route.

December 2008
Final assembly and safety certification of last car, #150.
The 20-mile METRO starter line opens for service on Dec. 27, 2008. More than 200,000 people ride the system during the two-day grand opening Dec. 27-28.