A Celebration to Kick-Off Construction of the 50th St/Washington Light Rail Station
June 7, 2017
Press Release by Valley Metro Light Rail
Construction Begins on the First Light Rail Project for Phoenix Transportation 2050
Phoenix – Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton hosted a community celebration on the rooftop of Ability360 to mark the start of construction on the 50th St/Washington Station. It is the first Valley Metro infill station and the first capital project under Transportation 2050 (T2050), approved by Phoenix voters in 2015.
“Construction begins tomorrow and when the station opens in 2019, it will serve not only the many users of Ability360, but also neighboring businesses like Stockyards Restaurant, USPS and many others,” said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. “It serves a unique community and as such, was part of the PHX Innovation Games to create concepts that would best serve the users of this station.”
Station designer, Gannett Fleming, worked with the Innovation Games winner Dig Studio, station artist Barbara Grygutis, and the construction contractor Stacy and Witbeck, to make the station a model of accessibility. Features include a wider platform to accommodate mobility devices, as well as enhanced shading and lighting.
Pictured: Front row, left to right – CTC member and Ability360 President & CEO Phil Pangrazio, owner of Stockyards Restaurant and Jokake Real Estate Services Gary Smith, Ability360 employee Jennifer Longdon.
Back row, left to right – CTC member Gail Knight, Phoenix Councilmember Kate Gallego, Sandra Ferniza, Director of Constituent Services for the Office of Congressman Ruben Gallego, Phoenix Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Phoenix Councilmember and Valley Metro Board Chair Thelda Williams, and Ideation Design Group Principal Carl Schaffer.
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