Light Rail Under Attack (Again): Phoenix Must Follow Through on the Promises Made in Prop 104
Ed Hermes and former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton during the “Yes on 104” campaign in 2014
In 2014, the City of Phoenix asked voters to increase the city transportation sales tax, and in exchange, the City would triple the mileage of Phoenix’s Light Rail, improve bus frequency by 70%, build bus rapid transit routes, and construct 135 miles of new sidewalks and 1,080 miles of new bike lanes – all by 2050. This was known as Proposition 104.
As a Phoenix resident who couldn’t afford to buy a car and who relied on cycling, the bus, and the Light Rail to get around Phoenix, the promises of Proposition 104 and the ability to have real transportation options in our city was a dream. So I spent my Saturdays leading up to the election knocking on doors and telling voters about the progress we would make to address climate change, improve street safety, and help working families get around our city if we passed Proposition 104.
The voters did their part by passing Prop 104 (now called Phoenix T2050), but now some officials are trying to derail the Light Rail extensions that it promised.
Predictably, some opponents of Light Rail are repeating the same, long-debunked arguments against public transit. And despite spending years and millions in planning and community outreach, the City of Phoenix is considering cancelling or indefinitely delaying the voter-approved Light Rail extension to the Arizona Capitol, known as (“Cap-Ex”).
The facts haven’t changed: transit options benefit everyone, strengthen our economy, and are the most cost-effective and efficient way to move people in a growing city. We know that public transit relieves congestion by taking cars off the road and improves our air quality. Greenhouse gas emissions, smog, and particulate matter from vehicles is making our city hotter and our air dirtier. Phoenix, which once attracted migrants and transplants due to its clean, dry air, now ranks among some of the most polluted areas in the U.S due to particulate and ozone pollution. And people of color in Phoenix are most impacted by our poor air quality. To address this, the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro have been planning on extending Light Rail to West Phoenix for over a decade, starting with the Capitol Extension.
How you can help
We need you to add your voice now more than ever to ensure that the City follows through on the promises of Prop 104, follows through on extending Light Rail, and follows through on the Cap-Ex extension! You can support in three ways:
First, complete the Valley Metro survey and let them know you want the City to follow through on extending Light Rail: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/capexsurvey
Second, the City of Phoenix Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, December 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss and recommend an option for Light Rail expansion. Please mark your calendar. We need a strong pro-transit turnout to speak in support of the Capitol extension. It is agenda item #7, which you can find here and sign up to speak: https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/cityclerksite/publicmeetings/notices/2025/december/251217002.pdf
Third, on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., the Phoenix City Council will decide whether to move forward with the Light Rail along the Capitol Extension or exit and reevaluate the future of light rail in Phoenix. This will be the final and most important vote!
Our message is simple and urgent:
The proposed options for the Cap-Ex light rail line, and it’s connection to the planned I-10 West expansion.
The City must follow through on its promise to voters and complete the Capitol Light Rail Extension. The project has already been studied and planned for years. A “re-evaluation” now is likely a euphemism for indefinite delay or cancellation. Phoenix must act—not stall—to deliver the transit options guaranteed by Proposition 104.
You will hear opposition, but here’s the truth:
“There’s no money.”
There is funding. Voters approved a dedicated revenue source specifically for Light Rail and transit expansion.“There’s no public support.”
Every time Light Rail or transit investments appear on the ballot, voters approve them. Phoenix residents have consistently and clearly said they want more transit options—not fewer.“There’s no need.”
With the rising cost of car ownership, worsening air pollution, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions, robust public transportation is essential. Phoenix cannot meet its Climate Action Plan goals—50% emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050—without a reliable, expanded transit network.
West Phoenix has waited long enough for frequent, dependable, and equitable public transit. This extension is a promise, a necessity, and an investment in a healthier, safer, and more sustainable city. Let’s make our voices heard and bring Light Rail west without delay.
