By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter
The Metro light rail’s extension to Gilbert Road in Mesa will officially open on Saturday.
Mesa Mayor John Giles, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Valley Metro CEO Scott Smith will launch the 1.9-mile transit extension Saturday morning. The $184 million extension creates two new stations and a new park-and-ride in the East Valley.
The Gilbert Road station features a distinctive ‘M’ structure signifying Mesa. Construction of the extension started in 2016 and disrupted business and traffic on Main Street east of the Mesa Drive station.
But Mesa hopes its support of light rail along Main Street will have longer term economic development benefits.