I-10 West Extension

The 9.4-mile I-10 West Extension will connect the greater West Valley to the existing Valley Metro Rail system. This project is unique and will see light rail trains traveling in the median of Interstate-10, before ultimately crossing to the north side of the freeway to a terminus at the existing Desert Sky Transit Center.

Recent updates:

• After receiving community input and reviewing the project team’s technical analysis, in the fall of 2021 the Phoenix City Council:

            - Reaffirmed light rail as the transit type

            - Extended the project corridor to Desert Sky Transit Center

• Preliminary Engineering (PE) work will continue to develop initial construction plans and technical specifications for the extension.
• The City Council-approved recommendations will be presented to the Valley Metro Rail Board of Directors in early 2022.

In 2016, the Phoenix City Council and Valley Metro Rail Board of Directors approved a phased approach to what was then known as the Capitol/I-10 West Extension.

Phase I, now known as the Capitol Extension, will connect downtown Phoenix to the Arizona State Capitol.

Phase II, now known as the I-10 West Extension, will extend light rail along I-10 to the 79th Ave/I-10 Park-and-Ride. For more information on the Capitol Extension project please visit the project web page at valleymetro.org/capex. This project is part of a voter-approved initiative. Learn more about T-2050 here.

1978: I-10 median designated for transit

2000: Voters pass Phoenix Transit Plan

2004: Voters pass Regional Transportation Plan, which includes an 11-mile West Phoenix transit corridor

2007: Alternatives analysis and public input began

2008: Downtown and Mainline community working groups formed

2012: Environmental Assessment began; public involvement continues; Locally Preferred Alternative approved

2015: Voters pass Transportation 2050 plan

2016: Phoenix City Council approves two-phase project; Phase 1 (downtown section) is reevaluated

2017: South Central / Downtown Hub provides an opportunity to re-examine Phase I options

2019: Phoenix City Council asks Valley Metro to gather additional public input on new proposed transit types and phasing