PHOENIX — *Editor's Note: The above video is from an earlier broadcast.*
Valley Metro's extended light rail route is officially in operation Jan. 27.
The route has been extended an additional 1.6 miles further into northwest Phoenix, resulting in the construction of three new stations where riders can board and exit the train.
The current route takes riders from 19th and Dunlap avenues in Phoenix to Gilbert Road and Main Street in Mesa.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Extensión a la ruta del tren rápido en Phoenix abre en enero del 2024
On Jan. 27, riders will be able to take the light rail to added stops located at 25th and Dunlap avenues, 25th Avenue and Mountain View Road, and the former Metrocenter Mall located near Castles N' Coasters.
The extension includes a rail-only bridge constructed over Interstate 17.
City officials said the extension will hopefully "breath new life" into the neighborhoods surrounding Metrocenter Mall, which closed in 2020 after years of decline. The old mall is now getting redeveloped into a new housing and retail project.
“Whether it’s going to work, to the doctor’s office, or to visit loved ones, I believe every person should be able to get where they need to go without relying on a car," Mayor Kate Gallego said in a statement about the extension.
Funds for the extension came from federal grants, Proposition 400, and the voter-approved Phoenix Transportation 2050 plan.
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