Phoenix Light Rail

The estimated cost of building a 32 km tram line was $ 1.4 billion ($ 43.75 million / km) ^[3] .

In the city, trams use “ middle street lanes, ” like the METRO Red Line in Houston , partly the MBTA Green Line in Boston, and the Muni Metro in San Francisco . Some parts of the line, for example, the bridge over the Tempe reservoir, are not connected in any way with road transport. The maximum declared tram speed is 88 km / h, so one car passes the entire line, including stops at stations, in 65 minutes ^[4] . The bus route, replaced by a tram line, was 80 minutes and depended on road traffic at rush hour ^[5]. The system receives energy from an air contact network with a voltage of 750 V ^[6] .

The first Phoenix tram system operated from 1887 to 1948. By the middle of the 20th century. it closed, being replaced by bus routes.

Valley Metro was founded in 2000 according to the Regional Transport Development Plan. The construction of a new tram line began in 2005, and in March 2008 a rail defect was discovered, the correction of which was carried out before May and more than $ 600 thousand was spent on it. ^[7] Completely laying concrete foundations and tracks was completed in April 2008 ^[8] .

In the first phase of the project, 32 km of line and 28 stations were erected. On December 27, 2008, the grand opening of the system with ribbon cutting and public celebrations took place in Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe ^{[9] [10]} . All stations of the system were decorated in a style in harmony with their surroundings ^[11] . The width of the platforms is 5 m, the length is 90 m.

The busiest month in the history of the system is February 2014 with a daily passenger flow of ≈48,924. On December 7, 2013, the daily passenger flow record was 65,773 due to the fans visiting the University’s football game in the Pac 12 championship, the Tempe Arts Festival, and the APS light show and the Beyoncé concert at the US Airways Center ^[12] .

Tempe Tram System

Since 2010, Valley Metro has been developing a new tram route in Tempe ^[13] . Two small tram lines will be directed to downtown Tempe ^[14] . The approximate cost of this project is $ 163 million. After the routes are opened, they will use 5 trams arriving at the station every ten minutes. The new line will have 18 stops.

Valley Metro uses a prepayment system. Tickets must be purchased in vending machines at the entrances to all stations and presented before entering the tram. A light rail system has the same fare as Valley Metro LINK and city buses, but less than express and express buses. As of March 1, 2013 the fare is ^[15] :

Until March 1, 2013, tickets were valid for 3 days, tickets for 15 days appeared only on March 1.

For children (from 6 to 18), retirees (from 65), people with reduced mobility and Medicare card holders, a 50% discount on tickets for light rail, city buses and LINK .

Students and employees of Arizona State University have the right to purchase an annual or semester discount card for traveling by light rail and all buses in the Valley ^[16] .

Children under 5 years old are entitled to free travel.

Northwest Renewal

Valley Metro is primarily planning to extend the light rail line to the northwestern areas of the city. The new section will pass from Montebello Station - 19th Avenue along 19th Avenue and Dunlap Road and to the west, to the MetroCenter Mall ^[17] . In 2012, company executives reported that the extension project was 90% ready, and the first stations on this site will be opened in 2016 ^[18] . On June 20, 2012, the Phoenix City Council announced that the Northwest Renewal would be open in late 2015 and early 2016 ^[19] .

Extension to Mesa Center

The extension to the center of Mesa was built in July 2012 after Sycamore Drive - Main Street station and 4.8 km were laid along Mesa's Main Street to Mesa Drive. On this section, 4 stations have been built at the crossroads of Alma School School, Country Club Drive, Center Street and Mesa Drive. The site was commissioned for passenger operation ^[20] . First of all, the Marikopa administration expects that, thanks to the tram line, downtown Mesa will receive a good development ^{[21] [22]} .

Extension along I-10

The extension along I-10 will pass from Downtown Phoenix to I-17, will turn north to the junctions I-10 and I-17. After that, the line will turn west and will go in the middle of I-10 highway to 43rd Avenue, after which the paths will go to the park on 79th Avenue. The new line (16 km) will consist of 10 stations and will connect downtown with the West Valley ^[23] . Further, the line will pass until the future extension of Arizona Highway 202, which will connect with I-10 and pass through 51st Avenue ^[24] .

Extension south at Tempe

Extending south at Tempe is a modern tram line that will run along Mill Avenue. There will be 13 stations on the 4-kilometer line. It will continue from Mill and South Avenue north to University Drive and loop through Downtown Tempe along Mill and Ash Ave ^[25] . After completion of construction, passengers will be able to get to the USA Memorial Lecture Hall. Gammage, S. Luke Hospital at Tempe and Tempe High School. There are also several options for further extension of this line ^{[26] [27]} .