By Jeremy Duda | Axios
Light rail in the Valley entered a new era over the weekend when the first train traversed the system’s south Phoenix expansion.
The big picture: A 5.5-mile extension that runs south along Central Avenue from downtown Phoenix opened Saturday.
- The extension has eight stations, with Central and Baseline Road marking the end of the line. The light rail system now has 35 miles of track.
- Federal funds covered about half the cost of the $1.3 billion project, with revenue from the Proposition 400 transportation tax and the city paying for much of the rest.
Why it matters: About 44% of area residents have limited or no access to cars, according to Valley Metro.
