The Phoenix metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, the Salt River Valley, metro Phoenix, or The Valley, is the largest metropolitan statistical area in the Southwestern United States, with its largest principal city being the city of Phoenix. It includes much of central Arizona. The United States Office of Management and Budget designates the area as the Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), defining it as Maricopa and Pinal counties. It anchors the Arizona Sun Corridor megaregion along with the second-most populous metropolitan area in the state, the Tucson metropolitan area. The gross domestic product of the Phoenix metropolitan area was $255 billion in 2018, 16th highest amongst metro areas in the United States.
Valley Metro Rail is a 29.8-mile (48 km) light rail system serving the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa in Arizona, USA. The network, which is part of the Valley Metro public transit system, began operations on December 27, 2008. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 10,797,600, or about 34,400 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.
McDowell/Central Avenue is a light rail station on Valley Metro Rail in uptown Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is the tenth stop southbound, and is located on Central Avenue south of McDowell Road, across the street from the Burton Barr Central Library and one block south of the Phoenix Art Museum.
Jefferson/1st Avenue station and Washington/Central Avenue station, also collectively known as Downtown Phoenix and City Hall, is a pair of light rail stations on the Valley Metro Rail in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is the sixteenth stop westbound and the thirteenth stop eastbound on the initial 20-mile (32 km) starter line. This station is split between two platforms, the northbound platform on Central Avenue at Washington Street and the southbound on 1st Avenue at Jefferson Street, approximately 800 feet (240 m) apart.
Montebello/19th Avenue is a station on the Metro light rail line in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. A large park and ride lot is located on the east side of 19th Avenue. The station is immediately south of Bethany Home Road. The station was the northern terminus of the Valley Metro Rail until the Northwest Extension I opened in 2016.
Valley Metro Bus is the public transit bus service in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. Valley Metro Bus provides local, regional, express, and rural bus services in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, covering a service area of 525 sq mi (1,360 km2). In 2023, the system had a ridership of 24,215,700, or about 83,300 per weekday in the first quarter of 2024.
The Tempe Streetcar, referred to as the Streetcar Line on regional transit maps, is a streetcar extension of Phoenix's Valley Metro Rail system. Construction began in 2017, and the line opened for service on May 20, 2022. It serves 14 stops across three miles of track serving various parts of the city's downtown, as well as the Tempe campus of Arizona State University, with the Valley Metro Rail main line.
19th Avenue/Dunlap is a station on the Valley Metro light rail line in Phoenix, Arizona. It was opened as part of Phase I of the Northwest Extension of the system on March 19, 2016, and remained the northwestern terminus of the line until January 27, 2024, when Phase II extended the line to Metro Parkway.
Northern Avenue/19th Avenue is a station on the Metro light rail line in Phoenix, Arizona. It was opened as part of Phase 1 of the Northwest Extension of the system on March 19, 2016.
Glendale/19th Avenue is a station on the Metro light rail line in Phoenix, Arizona. It was opened as part of Phase 1 of the Northwest Extension of the system on March 19, 2016.
There have been various proposals to bring commuter rail service to the Phoenix metropolitan area since at least the 1980s. A 2008 government plan, updated in 2018, proposes four lines running at 30-minute headways during peak hours and 2-hour headways during off-peak hours.
The South Central Extension is a light rail expansion project in Phoenix, Arizona. It will run from Downtown Phoenix south along Central Avenue to Baseline Road, adding 4.9 miles (7.9 km) and seven stations to the Valley Metro Rail system, while connecting with two park and ride locations. Additionally, this project will form a light rail hub in Downtown Phoenix, between Central and First avenues to the west and east, and Washington and Jefferson streets to the north and south. Also included are new tracks for turn-around / staging purposes at both Third Avenue and Fifth Street for enhanced flexibility during peak service.
Baseline/Central Avenue is an under-construction light rail station on the Valley Metro system in Phoenix. It is the southern terminus of the South Central Extension, located on Central Avenue at Baseline Road, and is expected to open in 2025. The station includes a park-and-ride facility.
Southern /Central Avenue is an under-construction light rail station on the Valley Metro system in Phoenix. Built as part of the South Central Extension, it located on Central Avenue at Southern Avenue. The station is expected to open in 2025.
Roeser/Central Avenue is an under-construction light rail station on the Valley Metro system in Phoenix. Built as part of the South Central Extension, it located on Central Avenue at Roeser Road. The station is expected to open in 2025.
Broadway/Central Avenue is an under-construction light rail station on the Valley Metro system in Phoenix. It is the southern terminus of the South Central Extension, located on Central Avenue at Broadway Road, and is expected to open in 2025. The station includes a park-and-ride facility.
Pioneer/Central Avenue is an under-construction light rail station on the Valley Metro system in Phoenix. Built as part of the South Central Extension, it located on Central Avenue near the corner of Pioneer Road. The station is expected to open in 2025.
Lincoln/1st Avenue station and Lincoln/Central Avenue station is a pair of under-construction light rail stations on the Valley Metro Rail in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Built as part of the South Central Extension, it located on 1st Avenue and Central Avenue near the intersection of Lincoln Street. The station is expected to open in 2025.
