As reported by AZ Family, several light rail stations in downtown Phoenix will be closed over the weekend to facilitate testing for the Valley Metro’s new South Central Extension/Downtown Hub. The transit authority has informed us that closures are essential to integrate the forthcoming two-line system seamlessly with the existing network.
The upcoming disruptions will affect key stations, including Van Buren/1st Avenue and Van Buren/Central Avenue, among others, from Saturday through the end of Sunday. During the closure, testing will prepare for the system's expansion and introduce an A-line and a B-line, aiming to improve connectivity within the city. Juliana Vasquez-Keating from Valley Metro emphasized the critical nature of this testing phase, as acquired from AZ Family, stating that "a lot of work" is necessary for this task.
Further, 12 News details that alternative transportation will be provided to alleviate the inconvenience to the riders during the closure. Shuttle buses will be available arriving approximately every 20 minutes at or near the affected stations to facilitate the daily commutes of the passengers.
The list of closed stations includes several junctions such as 3rd Street/Jefferson and 3rd Street/Washington, with extended service disruptions expected to linger throughout the entire weekend. Despite the closures, Valley Metro is deploying additional staff to guide passengers to the shuttle buses, ensuring they reach their destinations with minimal hassle. Vasquez-Keating told AZ Family that "you’re going to disembark the light rail and board the shuttle bus that we will be providing and head all the way on that shuttle bus to Roosevelt and Central.” Valley Metro has confirmed that the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub is on track to be operational by mid-2025.
