PHOENIX — Business owners along Indian School Road are raising alarms about a proposed West Valley light rail extension, saying years of construction could threaten their livelihoods.
Valley Metro’s proposed West Valley light rail extension would connect near Indian School Road and 19th Avenue, stretching 10 miles down Indian School Road before turning south on 75th Avenue and extending to 91st Avenue. Construction is not expected to begin until 2032, with an opening planned for 2036.
Suzanne Johnsen, owner and veterinarian at Van Aken Pet Hospital near Indian School Road and 39th Avenue, has worked at the clinic for three decades. The clinic itself has operated for nearly 70 years. Johnsen said she expects the project to cost the business more than just its front-facing parking…