Phoenix City Council moves focus of proposed light rail extension to Indian School Road

PHOENIX – The city of Phoenix officially switched tracks on a proposed light rail line into the West Valley on Tuesday.

The City Council voted during a policy session to focus on a Valley Metro extension that aligns with Indian School Road instead of one that runs past the Arizona Capitol further south.

The shift faced opposition but passed by a 7-2 margin.

District 7 Councilwoman Anna Hernandez called the decision “a failure of leadership.” She said west Phoenix residents will have to wait at least two years to learn if the Indian School Road alignment is viable.

“Reevaluating light rail expansion does not save money or protect the city. It costs Phoenix good-paying union jobs, increased mobility for working people, economic growth for small businesses and cleaner air in neighborhoods that already shoulder the greatest environmental burdens,” Hernandez said in a statement. “It also puts millions of dollars in federal funding at risk and delays long-promised infrastructure for west Phoenix and other historically underserved communities.”

Mayor Kate Gallego supported the change.

“We’ve seen it again and again — when light rail expands, communities benefit with better access to jobs, education, housing and more parts of our city,” Gallego said in a press release Wednesday. “Last night, the City Council and I voted to keep the dream alive and connect light rail to the West Valley. Light rail expansion has been, and will continue to be, a key priority for me.”

Phoenix switches away from Capitol Extension proposal

Officials have been working to expand the regional light rail system west of Interstate 10 and into Maryvale.

Until Tuesday, the preferred route, known as the Capitol Extension (CAPEX), passed the Arizona Capitol on its way out of the downtown area. However, the plan drew opposition from Republican state lawmakers, who were considering legislation to block it.

The CAPEX plan had moved forward to the point where the Federal Transit Administration already committed $200 million toward it, according to ABC15.

Valley Metro posted an update on the CAPEX project’s webpage after the latest City Council decision. The regional transportation agency said it will begin planning a study for the Indian School Road option while working closely with the city and federal partners.

“Valley Metro remains committed to advancing high-capacity transit to west Phoenix to meet significant demand, support mobility in this corridor and to continue to deliver upon the community’s vision for transit and transportation. Following the Phoenix City Council’s decision, Valley Metro will exit project development and the Capital Investment Grant process for the Capitol Extension (CAPEX) project,” the update says.

Valley Metro debuted an 5.5-mile extension from downtown to south Phoenix in June 2025, completing a yearslong effort.

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