Traffic & Transportation in Glendale
Glendale's transportation identity runs through Loop 101, which passes directly through the city and connects Glendale to the rest of metro Phoenix -- but Glendale is genuinely, and deliberately, without light rail: a 2017 city council vote formally killed a proposed Valley Metro extension into downtown Glendale.
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Learn moreLoop 101 is the real primary artery
Loop 101 (Arizona State Route 101) runs through Glendale, connecting the city north-then-into-Phoenix, and passes directly by State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena -- a real, major regional artery, especially relevant on the frequent game days and event nights described in moving and jobs-economy.
Glendale's own light rail extension was formally cancelled in 2017
Starting in 2013, Valley Metro studied extending light rail, bus rapid transit, or streetcar service into downtown Glendale, with three route options proposed. On October 17, 2017, Glendale City Council directed staff against moving forward on any route into downtown Glendale -- effectively killing the extension. This is a real, dated, deliberate local decision, not an oversight or a project still pending.
Glendale runs its own city circulator bus service instead
In the absence of light rail, Glendale is served by a circulator service operated directly by the city -- a real, if more limited, non-driving option than a rail connection would provide, and genuinely more car-dependent than Phoenix-metro cities that do connect to the Valley Metro rail network.
Event-day traffic is a real, recurring factor near Westgate
Because State Farm Stadium, Camelback Ranch, and Desert Diamond Arena all sit within Glendale, residents and commuters near the Westgate area should expect real, recurring event-day traffic congestion on Cardinals game days, spring-training days, and concert/event nights at Desert Diamond Arena -- a genuine, frequent factor rather than an occasional one given the volume of events across all three venues combined.
Key takeaways
- Loop 101 is Glendale's primary regional artery, running directly past State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena.
- Glendale's proposed Valley Metro light rail extension into downtown was formally killed by a 2017 city council vote -- a real, deliberate, dated decision, not a project still pending.
- Glendale runs its own city circulator bus service in place of light rail -- a real but more limited non-driving option, leaving the city genuinely more car-dependent than rail-connected Phoenix-metro cities.
- Expect real, recurring event-day traffic near Westgate given the combined volume of NFL games, Cactus League spring training, and Desert Diamond Arena concerts/events across the year.
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