Light rail plans progressing in Mesa
Extending the light rail through Central Mesa is a step closer now that the Federal Transit Administration has approved Metro light rail’s request to enter the project development phase.
This means that Metro can start the engineering process of the 3.1-mile extension that runs along Main Street from the current end-of-line at Sycamore on the west side of town through downtown Mesa and on to Mesa Drive.
This is the first step in receiving $75 million from the federal government. The engineering contract is for $12.5 million and has been awarded to Jacobs Engineering, headquartered in Pasadena, Calif.
Preliminary and final engineering will take about two years and the Central Mesa extension is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
“Central Mesa is a solid project,” said Steve Banta, Metro CEO, in a news release. “While the FTA process is competitive, our project received a favorable rating and should fare well in its application for federal grant money.”
The total project cost is estimated at $200 million and will be paid for using a mix of regional and federal funds. The regional funding sources were approved by the voters in 2004 as part of Proposition 400, according to John Farry, spokesperson for Metro.