Phoenix, AZ
Stop on the proposed 17,000-mile maglev network. Next stop: Glendale, AZ (8.2 mi).
About Phoenix
Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital.
Source: Wikipedia summary (full article). Population and facts as published there.
Cost breakdown (proposal-scale estimates — see math)
| Item | Basis | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal construction | Major hub terminal (parametric range $4–8B) | $6B |
| Land acquisition | Regional factor 1.5× on $200M base | $300M |
| Track: Phoenix → Glendale | 8.2 mi × $500M/mi | $4.1B |
| Annual operations (share) | Staffing, power, maintenance | $120M/yr |
| Stop total (excl. annual ops) | $10.4B |
Best terminal location (proposed)
The existing Amtrak/Union Station district in downtown Phoenix. Downtown Phoenix already concentrates the region's intercity rail history at Union Station, sits on the Valley Metro light rail line with a direct ride to Sky Harbor Airport, and the surrounding warehouse district offers the largest assemblage of redevelopable land in the core. A maglev terminal here plugs straight into the existing transit spine and captures the metro's five-million-plus catchment.
Before / after
Aerial mock-up (illustrative, not an engineering rendering). Left: the proposed site today. Right: with the maglev terminal.
- Maryvale — west Phoenix neighborhood along the Grand Avenue corridor.
- Alhambra — established corridor neighborhood between downtown and Glendale.
- The Grand Canal crossing — infill serving the canal-trail neighborhoods of central Phoenix.