Phoenix awards $305M contract for next phase of airport Sky Train

PHOENIX — The city of Phoenix has awarded a $305 million contract to a Canadian company for the next phase of Sky Train construction at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“We are delighted to be part of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s modernization and expansion program and to help support the airport in meeting its future mobility solutions requirements,” Benoit Brossoit, the president of the Americas Region for Bombardier Transportation, said in a release.

Phase 2 will include a 2.5-mile extension of the system to the airport’s rental car facility near 16th Street and Buckeye Road, two new stations, an expanded maintenance facility and 24 additional cars.

There were options for more vehicles and some upgrades.

The Montreal-based company built the first phase of the train that was opened in 2013. It also supplied operations and maintenance services.

The Sky Train has a 99.5 percent availability rating.

It hit the 1 million passengers mark the year it opened and had moved 10 million passengers by 2015.

Once it is completed, the Sky Train will connect the rental car facility, Terminal 3, Terminal 4, the East Economy parking lot and a transportation hub located near 44th and Washington streets. The rides are free.

Terminal 2 was accessible from the Sky Train via a short outdoor walkway.

Prior to the Sky Train’s construction, passengers relied on a shuttle system to get from terminal to terminal and to the rental car center.

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