Some Interesting Facts about the Light Rail

• Light rail cars are powered by electricity from overhead wires.
• Each rail car can handle about 200 passengers, 66 of which can sit.
• Rail cars will be air conditioned to 74-78 degrees.
• A station is designed to fit up to three rail cars at a time.
• The METRO fleet will number 50 vehicles altogether.
• The initial line is about 20 miles long.
• Trains will travel at the posted speed limit for that road. They will travel up to 55 mph in future freeway corridors.
• If you take the initial 20 mile line light rail system from end-to-end, the trip is expected to take about 60 minutes.
• The expected "dwell time" at stations -- the amount of time that a train will "dwell" in a station while passengers board -- is 20 seconds.
• Trains will operate 18-20 hours per day, seven days a week.
• Passengers will be able to catch the train every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes off-peak.
• The fare for light rail is the same as the bus.
• The 8 park-n-ride locations have a total of 3,324 parking spaces.
• Each rail car has racks for 8 bicycles.
• There are locking bike lockers at each park-n-ride.
• Service to Sky Harbor International Airport will be provided through a transfer from the light rail station at 44th and Washington streets to shuttle buses until the airport builds an Automated People Mover. The people mover is scheduled to be connected to the light rail station by 2012.
• The federal government is paying for about 41% of the cost of the 20-mile starter line: $587 million. The rest is funded with local sales taxes in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, with a small portion of the 20-mile starter line funded by Prop 400 monies.
• Six future extensions (37 additional miles) to other parts of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, and to downtown Glendale, are included in the Regional Transportation Plan.
• The METRO system is expected to reduce airborne emissions (pollution) by more than 12 tons each day compared to emissions associated with the same amount of passengers in cars.