The City of Phoenix, Arizona opened its $1.4 billion light-rail system today, offering free rides until January 1, in an effort to draw riders out of their cars and onto public transportation.
In this initial phase, the system covers 20 miles, connecting the cities of Tempe and Mesa, within the greater metropolitan area of Phoenix, which is home to 4 million people and struggles with traffic congestion and air quality.
Phoenix–the fifth most populous city in the nation–was the largest city in the U.S. without a public rail transit system, according to Reuters.
Expansion plans for the system include an additional 30 miles of rail lines by 2025, but this depends, in part, on how well the system is adopted by Phoenix residents.
City officials expect 26,000 boardings a day in 2009, at a cost of $1.25 per ride. But critics suggest area commuters will be unwilling to wait outdoors for trains, due to average high temperatures of 106 F.
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