Capitol Extension Final Design

The $400 million Capitol Extension (CAPEX) project will create a critical transit connection between downtown Phoenix and the Arizona State Capitol area, bringing together state, regional, and local agencies, as well as community partners. The project will enhance accessibility, strengthen interagency coordination, and support revitalization through improved mobility and connectivity.

Ardurra is leading essential design, compliance, and community-focused efforts. For utilities, Ardurra advances public and private utility designs, develops as-built files, performs QA/QC, oversees CAD base mapping, coordinates third-party utilities, and prepares conflict matrices to support constructability and schedule reliability.
In ADA, Ardurra leads corridor accessibility surveys, conducts regulatory research, reviews designs for ADA compliance, and presents findings to the Valley Metro Accessibility Advisory Group.

For the project’s Traction Power Substation (TPSS) / Signal Building, Ardurra is leading the civil site components, including grading, drainage, and utilities, power service points, right-of-way needs, and electrical and lighting requirements. Additionally, Ardurra is delivering civil designs, aligning power and system needs with the electrical partner.

Ardurra is also working in other key areas, including:

• Buy/Build America compliance lead, ensuring adherence to 49 CFR Part 661 and federal material sourcing standards.

• Complete Streets lead, reviewing and confirming that the project design incorporates a multimodal, ADA-accessible design that is consistent with City of Phoenix Active Transportation & Complete Streets policy.

• Transit-Oriented Communities/Development (TOC/D) and land-use planning lead, working with the project team to help guide strategies for community-approved land uses that align the light rail project with the stakeholders it will serve

• Community engagement and interagency coordination, supporting public meetings, bilingual communications, stakeholder outreach, and coordination with adjacent infrastructure projects to minimize community disruption.

Key Highlights:

• Provide light rail transit connection between downtown Phoenix and the State Capitol area

• $150 million in savings through Value Engineering

• The Capitol Extension is the first critical step in expanding light rail into West Phoenix.