Valley Metro Rail extension opens in Mesa, Ariz. several months early

PHOENIX — The Valley Metro Rail is moving on up — literally.

The intercity light rail system has officially been instated in Mesa, Arizona and will begin operating for the public on Saturday. It has been the first extension since the Valley Metro Rail was completed in 2008.

“It’s not often that you hear of a government building project that comes in under budget and under time, but that’s the case for the light rail in Mesa,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles.

The additional four stops and 3.1 miles of service was completed 7 months early, with new stations located at Alma School Road, Country Club Drive, Center Street and Mesa Drive. The new stations will also accompany a park-and-ride and are expected to service about 5,000 riders daily.

“Beginning Saturday at 8, we’re going to cut the ribbon on the light rail that will connect Downtown Mesa all the way to Mesa Drive with Phoenix and Tempe and all the other great locations on the light rail route,” he said.

The ridership of the light rail has exceeded expectations and it has been very successful as a transportation system, he said. The economic impact has heavily benefited the city as well, according to Giles.

“All along the light rail route, for every dollar invested in light rail there’s been a return of $7 in private investment,” Giles said. “And we’re already experiencing that in Mesa.”

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