While it is known in Phoenix already as one of the most expensive homeless shelters on the city, the light rail system is expanding. The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department was informed on Friday, that it will receive a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for planning, environmental assessment, and conceptual engineering for the South Central transit corridor, a five-mile light rail line along Central Avenue between downtown Phoenix and Baseline Road.
The South Central corridor grant was awarded as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) 2014 program. In 2014 TIGER grants will contribute approximately $600 million for 72 transportation projects in 46 states and the District of Columbia.
Phoenix City Council members lauded the award announcement. “Extending light rail is critically important to south Phoenix and this is a significant step toward that goal,” Mayor Greg Stanton said. “I want to thank Congressman Ed Pastor for being a champion of mass transit and for helping to make our light rail system a reality.”
Councilwoman Thelda Williams, chair of the Phoenix City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, said, “It’s an important first step in the long light rail development process.”
“The awarding of a TIGER grant to the city of Phoenix provides an exciting opportunity. The South Central light rail extension has been a top priority of mine since day one, and this grant will enable us to move forward with this critical piece of our transit infrastructure,” Councilwoman Kate Gallego said.