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.
Downtown Phoenix is the central business district (CBD) of the City of Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is in the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area or Valley of the Sun. Phoenix, being the county seat of Maricopa County and the capital of Arizona, serves as the center of politics, justice and government on the local, state and federal levels. The area is a major center of employment for the region, with many financial, legal, and other national and international corporations housed in a variety of skyscrapers. Major arts and cultural institutions also call the area home. Downtown Phoenix is a center of major league sports activities, live concert events, and is an equally prominent center of banking and finance in Arizona. Regional headquarters for several major banks, including JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, US Bank, Bank of America, Compass Bank and Midfirst Bank are all located within or close proximity to the area.
The Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority, more popularly known as Valley Metro, is the unified public brand of the regional transit system for the Phoenix metropolitan area. Within the system, it is divided between Valley Metro Bus, which runs all bus operations, Valley Metro Rail, which is responsible for light rail and streetcar operations in the Valley. In 2023, the combined bus and rail system had a ridership of 36,374,000, or about 122,600 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.
Phoenix Union Station is a former train station at 401 South 4th Avenue in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, United States. From 1971 to 1996 it was an Amtrak station. Until 1971, it was a railroad stop for the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads. Union Station was served by Amtrak's Los Angeles–New Orleans Sunset Limited and Los Angeles–Chicago Texas Eagle. The station is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Phoenix Street Railway provided streetcar service in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, from 1888 to 1948. The motto was "Ride a Mile and Smile the While."
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.
Encanto/Central Avenue is a light rail station on Valley Metro Rail in uptown Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is the ninth stop southbound and the twenty-first stop northbound on the initial 20 mile starter line. The station is located on Central Avenue north of Encanto Boulevard directly in front of the Tapestry on Central condominium complex. The Heard Museum is located across the street from this station.
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.
Van Buren/1st Avenue station and Van Buren/Central Avenue station, also known as Central Station, is a pair of Valley Metro Rail stations in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Despite having at least four different names, it is all actually one facility, which serves as a stop for various city buses.
3rd Street/Jefferson station and 3rd Street/Washington station, collectively known as Convention Center/Ballpark/Arena, are a pair of light rail stations on Valley Metro Rail in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. They are the fifteenth stop westbound and the fourteenth stop eastbound on the initial 20-mile (32 km) rail segment. The station has two platforms, the westbound platform which is located on 3rd Street and Washington Street, and the eastbound platform on 3rd Street and Jefferson Street, approximately 500 feet (150 m) apart.
12th Street/Jefferson station and 12th Street/Washington station, also collectively known as Eastlake Park, is a pair of light rail stations on Valley Metro Rail in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is the fourteenth stop westbound and the fifteenth stop eastbound on the initial 20-mile (32 km) starter line. This station is split between two platforms, the westbound platform which is located on Washington Street at 12th Street and the eastbound platform located on Jefferson Street at 12th Street, approximately 500 feet (150 m) apart from one another.
24th Street/Jefferson station and 24th Street/Washington station are a pair of light rail stations on the Valley Metro Rail in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. They are the thirteenth stop westbound and the sixteenth stop eastbound on the initial 20-mile (32 km) starter line. This station is split between two platforms, the westbound platform which is located on Washington Street at 24th Street and the eastbound platform located on Jefferson Street at 24th Street, approximately 400 feet (120 m) apart from one another.
Indian School/Central Avenue is a station on the Metro light rail line in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is the sixth stop southbound and the twenty-third stop northbound on the initial 20 mile starter line.
Thomas/Central Avenue is a light rail station on Valley Metro Rail in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is the seventh stop southbound and the twenty-second stop northbound on the initial 20 mile starter line. The station is north of Thomas Road, and it can be accessed from both Thomas Road, at the south, and Catalina Drive, two blocks to the north. Catalina Drive is the south-boundary street for Park Central Mall.
Transportation in Phoenix, Arizona is primarily via private cars. Public transport is run under the brand Valley Metro, and consists of buses, light rail, and a streetcar system.
CityScape Phoenix is a high-rise mixed-use development in Downtown Phoenix consisting of residential, retail, office, and hotel components. The development covers three city blocks in the heart of Downtown Phoenix and is located between First Avenue and First Street to the west and east, and between Washington and Jefferson streets to the north and south. A portion of the development was built on the land formerly occupied by Patriots Square Park through a redevelopment agreement with the City of Phoenix. It is centrally located in the heart of Downtown Phoenix, within walking distance of Footprint Center, Chase Field, Comerica Theatre, the Orpheum Theatre and the Phoenix Convention Center.
Valley Metro Bus is a transit bus system for public transport in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 24,215,700, or about 83,300 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024. Buses are operated by private companies contracted by Valley Metro and the City of Phoenix. Service currently operates throughout the broader Phoenix Metropolitan Area. All buses have wheelchair ramps or lifts, and except for paratransit vehicles, all buses have bike racks.
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.
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 2024.
Valley Metro Bus: 0, 8, Phoenix Downtown Dash, Grand Avenue Limited, 514, 520, 521, 522, 531, 533, 535, 541, 542, 562, 563, 571, 573, 575, 1-10 East RAPID, 1-10 West RAPID, 1-17 RAPID, South Mountain East RAPID, South Mountain West RAPID [1] 
