Rep. Greg Stanton today announced the South-Central Light Rail extension will be boosted by an additional $21.1 million in federal funds to keep the project on-time. Construction is set to be completed in 2024, however, supply chain challenges and inflation threatened to alter the timeline. The government funding legislation—expected to pass the House and Senate this week—includes a total of $425 million to provide additional assistance to Capital Investment Grant projects across the country, including light rail in Phoenix.

In an October letter, Stanton led his colleagues in urging appropriators to “address the unpredictable and unparalleled challenges facing these projects.”

“It’s so important this project is completed on-time—not just for the neighboring businesses and families, but for all who stand to benefit from expanded access to reliable transit,” Stanton said. “When it’s complete, this extension will open South Phoenix up to new economic opportunities: jobs, private and public investments, education, health care, social services and more.”

“Valley Metro is grateful for the support and the steadfast advocacy of Congressman Stanton,” Valley Metro CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller said. “Congressman Stanton wholeheartedly understands the economic impacts of public transit. It is through his work that we see this additional investment that will help fund our ongoing South Central/Downtown Hub rail project and new endeavors into zero emission fleet.”

Stanton has been a fierce advocate for public transit since his time as mayor of Phoenix, leading the charge on T2050, one of the most ambitious transportation initiatives in the country—a bipartisan, voter-backed plan to extend Phoenix’s light rail system, expand bus service, and improve thousands of miles of roadways over the next 35 years. He has continued to fight for federal funds and increased resources for the CIG program as Vice Chair of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.