Phoenix’s newest stretch of light rail drew crowds of eager riders for its grand opening Saturday.
The $401 million, 1.6-mile extension running along 19th Avenue and over Interstate 17 includes three new stations, seven public art installations and a plethora of firsts for the Valley’s public transportation system. Along with Valley Metro’s first elevated station and rail-only bridge, the project also includes the rail’s first structured parking lot — a four-story park-and-ride garage next to the new Thelda Williams Transit Center.
Valley Metro CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller told those gathered at the opening day event that the Thelda Williams Transit Center, located on the ground floor of the elevated station, will be a multimodal transit center servicing the light rail, city buses, and eventually rapid-transit buses and paratransit.
Valley Metro expects the new rail to draw in 3,000 new daily commuters. The extension connects riders from across the East Valley to northwest Phoenix’s soon-to-be refurbished Metrocenter area. Famous for being the set of the film “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” the Metrocenter mall closed many of its retail stores but hopes to make a revival with the establishment of the light rail station.