Valley Metro and the City of Phoenix applied for and won $1 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Alternatives Analysis (AA) competitive grant program. Metro will conduct an AA, analyzing various high-capacity transit alternatives, for the South Central Phoenix corridor on Central Avenue between downtown Phoenix and Baseline Road.

The AA will consist of evaluating the feasibility of several high-capacity transit routes and modes, including light rail, bus rapid transit and modern streetcar. The study will also develop preliminary ridership forecasts, cost ranges, engineering and community issues and economic development opportunities.

The end result is identification of a single transit route and mode that best serves the South Phoenix community and larger transit system. The study will take approximately two years to complete and is the first step in the process to compete for federal capital funds.

Metro previously received $500,000 from this same grant program to initiate a preliminary feasibility study of light rail in this corridor. The study’s scope will be enhanced to complete a formal AA with a budget now totaling $1.5 million.