Construction of Phoenix-based Valley Metro’s second arterial bus rapid transit (BRT) project will begin in November with the award of a contract to D.L. Withers Construction by the Valley Metro board of directors. The overall construction project will include 20 BRT stations and two artistic shelters.

Originally funded by Proposition 400 funds, the construction project would have been halted due to a downturn in sales tax revenues if not for the funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Valley Metro Board selected the Arizona Avenue/Country Club Road BRT project construction for the stimulus funding in May.

The cost of construction is $3,926,600 and will include shelter construction, landscaping, lighting, utility relocation, data and power hook-ups, dynamic messaging signs for bus arrival information and bike racks. Additional elements of the project also funded by stimulus dollars include fare vending machines, traffic signal priority system and some of the right-of-way acquisition.

The Arizona Avenue/Country Club Road LINK bus service is scheduled to begin July 2010 at the same time the construction is estimated for completion.