West Valley mayors push regional commuter rail January 14th, 2006
Cecilia Chan, The Arizona Republic, Jan. 13, 2006
Commuter rail needs to be regional and needs to be integrated with other modes of public transportation, regional officials say… West Valley leaders listed suggestions they wanted the Maricopa Association of Governments to consider when it updates its 2003 study on passenger rail options and implementation strategies.
The MAG Management Committee was to vote Wednesday to form a commuter-rail stakeholders group to help prepare a draft scope of work for the $5 million study, which would be coordinated with a parallel study proposed by the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Phoenix Councilman Claude… Mattox also said [that] Phoenix City Manager Frank Fairbanks is on record in support of a commuter rail study.
Mexico reviving travel by train January 6th, 2006
Chris Hawley
Arizona Republic Mexico City Bureau
Jan. 6, 2006 12:00 AM MEXICO CITY – High-speed bullet trains whooshing across the Mexican countryside. Electric commuter trains slicing through Mexico City. Gleaming new train stations and state-of-the-art switching systems.
It’s all part of an ambitious, multibillion-dollar plan to revive train travel in Mexico, a business that was mostly abandoned in 2001 after decades of mismanagement and long, uncomfortable journeys in aging rail cars.
Now construction crews are tearing up streets along the weed-covered rails leading into Mexico City’s crumbling Buenavista station, preparing the way for a new $5 billion commuter-rail system that officials are calling the Suburban Train…
Rest of the story at http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0106mextrain06.html
Phoenix commuters loved the Hattie B., now it’s time to consider more rail options January 2nd, 2006
Business Journal of Phoenix, 2006-01-02 Editorial
There’s been a lot of hubbub surrounding light rail in metro Phoenix. Although opinions in the business community have been mixed, we’ve supported the project.
And while we don’t know how successful light rail will be, one thing is certain: Additional solutions to the Valley’s growing traffic congestion must be brought to the table now.
That’s why it’s good to hear about pending discussions that could bring commuter trains to the outskirts of the West Valley. Officials are talking with Union Pacific Railroad in the southwest Valley and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad along Grand
Avenue about adding commuter rail cars to reduce traffic and air pollution.
We say it’s an idea — albeit not a new one — that seriously should be considered…
Rest of the story: http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/01/02/editorial2.html
Commuter rail considered as Valley traffic snarls grow January 2nd, 2006
Business Journal of Phoenix, 2006-01-02
If you’re tired of rush-hour thrills caused by dangerous tailgaters, lane weavers and 18-wheelers barreling up behind you like charging locomotives, commuter trains could be the answer.
West Valley officials are interested in talking with Union Pacific Railroadin the southwest Valley and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad along Grand Avenue about adding commuter rail cars to reduce traffic and air pollution. One line could run between downtown Phoenix and the West Valley, and the other could run northwest from Phoenix to Surprise.
In January, the Maricopa Association of Governments plans to begin discussions about commuter rail with mayors, transit planners and others in the West Valley.
Rest of the story at: http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/01/02/story1.html
