I'd say that the most confusing issue for people who are not familiar with METRO light rail is the notion that it is a loop and not an end-to-end back and forth trip. The reason this is confusing is that there are five stations in downtown phoenix, near the middle of the 20-mile alignment, where the trains travel one way only. Those stations are split and the station where trains are going in the other direction is about a block away.
The five stations in questions are shown on maps as having two intersections.
- Use the Van Buren/Central station for northbound, and use the Van Buren/1st Avenue station for southbound/eastbound.
- Use the Washington/Central station for northbound and use the Jefferson/1st Avenue station for eastbound.
- Use the 3rd Street/Washington station for westbound/northbound and use the 3rd Street/Jefferson station for eastbound.
- Use the 12th Street/Washington station for westbound/northbound and use the 12th Street/Jefferson station for eastbound.
- Use the 24th Street/Washington station for westbound/northbound and use the 24th Street/Jefferson station for eastbound.
