October 20, 2000
Downtown Phoenix Partnership, Inc.
502 E. Monroe, Suite C-1
Phoenix, AZ 85004
To Whom It May Concern:
The Arizona Rail Passenger Association supports the expansion of the Downtown District as described in your Fall 2000 newsletter. The revised boundaries would include all of what is popularly known as “Downtown Phoenix,” for the first time including Union Station on South 4th Avenue.
Union Station will have an increasingly important role in the not-too-distant future. We are working for, and hope you will join us in calling for, Amtrak to return its Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle trains through the Valley; for high speed rail between Phoenix and Tucson; and for commuter trains from Sun City West, Buckeye, Chandler, Gilbert, and Queen Creek to bring employees, students, and shoppers right into the heart of Downtown Phoenix. Your new boundaries clearly indicate that Union Station is convenient to all of Downtown.
The station should be purchased by the City of Phoenix and entirely returned to its original purpose for which it is still well suited - the Gateway to Phoenix.
I am also excited about the District Cooling program, which will extend just one short block away from Union Station. The station, completed in 1923 before the advent of air conditioning, could well benefit from a modern system like this.
I hope you will approve the new boundaries, and I look forward to working with you on making Phoenix Union Station a valuable part of Downtown.
Sincerely,
/s/ William Lindley
