News Wrapup, October 1997   October 30th, 1997

October

  • “Rail cars stack up in Yuma,” The Arizona Republic, Oct. 26, 1997. Continued congestion problems on the Union Pacific.
  • “Amtrak suffers legislative setback,” The Arizona Republic, Oct. 25, 1997
  • “New depot lacks old railroad feel,” The Arizona Republic, Oct. 20, 1997. A review of the Verde Canyon Railroad depot at Clarkdale. The VCR carried 65,000 visitors through the Verde Canyon last year.
  • “Pay pollution costs now, or pay more later,” by Brent Yonkovich, The Arizona Republic, Oct. 19, 1997, page EV11. QUOTE: “The only true solution to particulate pollution is… the use of a modern mass-transit system.”
  • “Tempe zeros in on site for transit center,” By Bob Petrie The Arizona Republic, Oct. 16, 1997
  • “Railroad Park reopens in Scottsdale,” By Alexa Haussler, The Arizona Republic, Oct. 15, 1997
  • “Lots of right answers to the transit problem,” by Don Purfeerst, The Arizona Republic, Oct. 15, 1997, page EV10. QUOTE: “Don’t put a rail system in a ‘planning hole,’ put it at the heart of the proposal.”
  • “Transit in Valley must unite,” The Arizona Republic, Oct. 15, 1997, page EV10. Collection of letters about roads, transit.
  • Runway construction may require rebuilding of two miles of UPRR track just east of downtown Phoenix: “Airport of the future envisioned,” By Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, Oct. 12, 1997
  • “Tax brains, not wallets, to fix traffic mess,” The Arizona Republic, Oct. 12, 1997, page EV11. Collection of letters about roads, transit.
  • “Tax foes win cheaply,” By Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, Oct. 11, 1997
  • “Transit: Pay up now or pay more later,” by Karen Peters, The Arizona Republic, Oct. 4, 1997.
  • “Transportation system’s future in Valley starts now,” The Arizona Republic, Oct. 2, 1997, page EV4. Collection of letters about transit.
Posted in News

1997 Annual Meeting   October 15th, 1997

This year’s Annual Meeting was a time to reflect upon our achievements and the challenges ahead of us. Several guests, who saw in the Arizona Republic the notice of our meeting, came to hear Joe Neblett of ADOT describe high-speed rail. Our treasurer reports at least one new membership was received from the meeting.

Robert Bohannan, having just been elected President at the Board of Directors meeting, chaired the Annual Meeting. He announced that the Directors as printed were elected.

The Board chose as officers for this year: Rob Bohannan as President; Sam Morse as Vice-President; Marc Pearsall as Secretary; and Rob Lindley as Treasurer.

Treasurer Rob Lindley presented a report on ARPA’s finances. Copies of ARPA’s 1997 Annual Report are available from the ARPA office.

Bill Lindley then gave an update on Amtrak, regional rail, and the Fall 1997 National Association of Railroad Passengers convention in Santa Fe, NM. Anthony Haswell reported on his attending the “Passenger Trains on Freight Railroads” conference.

Phoenix-Tucson High-Speed Rail

Our guest speaker, Joe Neblett of the Arizona Department of Transportation, then presented the Status of the High Speed Rail Study. ADOT is conducting a high speed rail feasibility study to develop long-range transportation alternatives for the I-10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson. The study, started in July, is expected to run through March ’98.

The study is evaluating several options, from no-build through highway widening and conventional rail to high speed alternatives.

Posted in Events, Regional Rail