The route runs the light-rail near such downtown venues as:Central Station, Bank One Building, Arizona Center, Maricopa CountyCourts, Patriots Square, Civic Plaza, America West Arena, Bank OneBallpark, the Arizona Science Center, Orpheum Theater, HerbergerTheater, and the Collier Center.

Businesses along Van Buren Street, which is a quarter-mile northof Washington, had wanted the light-rail to run along that street,hoping that it would boost economic development along the depressedthoroughfare. But a study by the city showed that it would cost $69million less to build on the one-way streets of Jefferson andWashington and provide better access to most downtown areas.

The section through Phoenix is only part of the 25-mile corridorof light-rail that will connect Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. Theprojected alignment runs the rail through north Phoenix near MetroCenter Mall, by Sky Harbor International Airport, through downtownTempe by Arizona State University and into downtown Mesa. Theestimated cost for the rail is projected to be more than $49million per mile. Voters in Phoenix approved a sales tax increaseto pay for the new line.