Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this story omitted two possible light rail extensions approved by voters in 2015. Also, the extensions are funded by a combination of the city transportation sales tax, a countywide transportation tax and federal funding.

A group of fervent light-rail opponents is one step closer to letting Phoenix voters again decide the controversial transit system's fate.

For the past several months, a Phoenix political committee dubbed "Building a Better Phoenix" has circulated an initiative petition to ask voters to end light rail expansion in the city and instead divert the money to other transportation improvements, like buses and road repairs.

On Wednesday, the group submitted 40,000 signatures for verification. The initiative needs 20,510 verified signatures to qualify for the ballot in either the May or August 2019 elections, according to a city spokesman. The timing will depend on how long it takes city staff and then the City Council to complete the verification process.

"Ending the expansion of light rail will free up billions that can be spent on fixing streets and sidewalks, expanding bus and Dial-a-Ride services, improve lighting and other much-needed transportation projects," south Phoenix business owner Rachel Palopoli said during a rally before turning in the signatures.

The money earmarked for light rail extensions comes from a $31.5 billion, 35-year transportation plan funded by a sales tax increase voters approved in 2015. About 35 percent of the funding is currently dedicated to light rail expansions, while 51 percent goes to buses and the remaining 14 percent to street repairs.

If the Building a Better Phoenix initiative qualifies for the ballot and is approved by voters, the dedicated light rail funds would be redistributed to the other transportation categories.

South Phoenix line spurred protest

There are six remaining Phoenix light rail extensions that were included in the city's transportation plan approved by voters in 2015:

South Central (connecting the current line to Baseline Road via Central Avenue).

Capitol/I-10 West (connecting current line to state Capitol and 79th Avenue park and ride.

Northwest Phase II (connecting current northwest line to Metrocenter Mall).

ASU West (connecting Metrocenter Mall to Arizona State University's West Campus).

West Phoenix/Camelback (connecting the current line to Grand Canyon University and 43rd Avenue and Camelback Road).

Northeast (connecting current line to Paradise Valley Mall).

The South Central extension has caused the most stir in the community. It prompted the Building a Better Phoenix group to bring forth the initiative that could kill all of the extensions.

A grassroots group of south Phoenix residents and business owners sprung up earlier this year, advertising the slogan "four lanes or no train." The group told the City Council it was concerned about the extension because it would whittle Central Avenue down to only two vehicle lanes.

The council had approved the two-lane plan in 2014, but some residents said they were not aware of the impact on lanes until this year.

The group went before the council multiple times this year to ask it to either kill the project or revise it to maintain four vehicle lanes. Ultimately, the council voted to proceed with the original plan and Building a Better Phoenix began the initiative process.

Construction of the extension is slated to begin next year, using a combination of the city sales tax funds, countywide transportation tax revenue and federal funds.

Who's behind anti-light rail group?

Members of Building a Better Phoenix said Wednesday that their initiative is a "grassroots effort" made up of south Phoenix residents and business owners.

Some light-rail supporters have suggested the grassroots group has been influenced by outside conservative groups — such as those funded by billionaires Charles and David Koch — that want to end public transportation projects.

Building a Better Phoenix denies this.

James Neal, a business owner in south Phoenix, told The Arizona Republic Wednesday that the group's signature-gathering efforts were fully funded by residents and business owners in south Phoenix. The group spent about $200,000 on a professional signature-gathering company and used south Phoenix volunteers to collect signatures, he said.

According to a campaign finance report filed in October, the group's only donors are four south Phoenix business owners.

In September, just days after Building a Better Phoenix filed paperwork to begin collecting signatures for the anti-light rail initiative, The Republic learned that Scot Mussi, president and executive director of the Koch-connected Arizona Free Enterprise Club, purchased the domain, "BuildingABetterPhoenix.com."

Mussi told The Republic at the time that he did buy the domain, but only because he thought the opposition group would buy it and use it maliciously. He said he would sell it back to the community group.

Mussi also said the Arizona Free Enterprise Club hadn't "contributed any money to the effort" and would not put "one dollar into their signature-gathering efforts." He said the community group wanted to do it on its own.

As of Wednesday, "BuildingABetterPhoenix.com" is still registered to the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, but the website is not live.

'Costs too much and gives too little'

Phoenix voters have approved light rail multiple times, including the most recent 2015 plan.

But Building a Better Phoenix members said they believe their initiative will see a different result than past elections because people are fed up with the impacts of light rail.

South Phoenix resident Susan Gudino said people oppose light rail for many reasons. She's most worried about emergency vehicle access on narrower roads but said others worry about a lack of access to small businesses, an uptick in crime and the high cost of the project.

The south Phoenix extension is expected to cost about $1 billion, with Phoenix footing about $220 million. The countywide transportation tax revenue and federal government are expected to cover the rest.

"Light rail costs too much and gives too little," Gudino said.