Valley Metro is close to completing its latest public transportation project. A 5.5 mile line will run from the downtown area along Central to Baseline Road in south Phoenix.
Community members and government officials gathered near the intersection of Central Avenue and Baseline Road to watch as the train pulled into the newest light rail station in South Phoenix.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego was at Saturday’s event.
“Three different votes helped make this possible and it's a really exciting extension because it'll connect the riverfront with Audubon and the amenities there, the beautiful South Mountain corridor, South Central with downtown and the airport and beyond," she said.
Congressman Greg Stanton says nearby businesses deserve the city’s gratitude for their patience during the construction phase.
“We definitely owe them the support that was given during the construction phase and we owe them support even afterwards," he said.
Construction took a big toll on local businesses, says Phoenix resident Alejandro Sánchez.
"Our sales went down a lot, our commercial objectives went down a lot and for that, we, in the businesses, waited for this day to come because we want there to be a boom for South Phoenix," he said.
According to Valley Metro, the train is expected to be running by summer.
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