City Council Votes To Delay Light Rail Line For West Phoenix

By Lauren Gilger
Associated Press
Published: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 8:39am
Updated: Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 12:39pm
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The Phoenix City Council meeting Wednesday night was contentious on multiple levels. The council had two controversial issues on the docket — the expansion of the light rail into the west Valley and the approval of zoning for a high-rise in midtown Phoenix.

The council voted to delay a planned light rail line for west Phoenix.

Council members voted 5-3 on Wednesday to use the money for street repairs instead.

The line was slated to open in 2026.

It would have continued the current track west on Camelback Road, connecting it to Grand Canyon University and ending at 43rd Avenue.

West Phoenix business owners argued that the line was no longer viable since Glendale voted down its light rail plan in 2017.

The council last October voted unanimously to postpone a line planned to connect downtown Phoenix to the Paradise Valley Mall.

That line was scheduled to open in 2036.

Arizona Republic reporter Jessica Boehm was there for all of the debate, and she joined The Show to talk about Wednesday's council meeting.

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