Valley Metro has opened the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub (SCE/DH), a 5.5-mile light rail expansion connecting South Phoenix to downtown. The opening marks the transition of Valley Metro Rail into a two-line, 35-mile system, expanding access to jobs, education, and amenities for thousands of residents across the region.
The $1.34 billion project was funded through a mix of federal grants and local sources, including Phoenix’s Transportation 2050 plan and Proposition 400. More than half of the total cost was covered by federal funds. Construction created over 5,000 jobs, with over 600 workers hired directly from the South Phoenix area.
The extension includes eight new stations, a new transit hub downtown, and a park-and-ride facility at Baseline Road and Central Avenue. Upgrades to bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and public infrastructure were also completed, along with the installation of more than 550 trees and desert-adapted landscaping. Thirty miles of underground utilities were replaced as part of the project.
Valley Metro expects the new line to add more than 8,000 daily riders to a system that already serves approximately 32,000 boardings per day. The line enhances weekday service frequencies to every 12 minutes before 7 p.m.
The project also prioritized local inclusion and economic development. More than 270 small businesses along the corridor received financial support through a $1.6 million grant program designed to mitigate impacts during construction.