Arizona Rail Passenger Association

According to a press release from Colorado Railcar, “an independent Transit Alliance Report praises [our] … Double Deck Railcars” –

Miami, FL – Colorado Railcar’s DMU continues to receive strong reviews from both commuters and media. In a recently published report on the Tri-Rail System, Kathleen Osher of Transit Alliance praised the Double Deck DMU and Coach for the quiet ride and high level of comfort. “The trains are very clean and there is much more head room on the upper deck of this vehicle with nearly [7] feet,” notes Osher, “I also notice that this train is MUCH quieter and rocks less from side to side.” Colorado Railcar’s low floor design also allows for easy access with baggage. These cars deliver the comfort and level of convenience that you would expect from Colorado Railcar. Osher praised the wide open design of the cars’ upper level windows, commenting that “the large domed glass windows are huge and give a great view of the surrounding areas.” The Double Deck DMU has made an impressive mark on the Tri-Rail System, consistently living up to its reputation as one of the most efficient, comfortable railcars in the industry.

The rest of the story is at: http://www.transitalliance.org/enews/feb2007/MiamiTour-TriRail012507.pdf

Here we are, a little more than a year before light rail opens….

More and more, Mesa’s and Tempe’s experiences with light rail are mirroring those of two Dallas suburbs…

Plano, Texas, was progressive with its light-rail leg… On the other hand, Garland, Texas, hemmed and hawed about light rail.

If history repeats itself, and you know it often does, Tempe is on track to be Plano, revitalizing Apache Boulevard as Plano revitalized its downtown.

And Mesa will end up like Garland, dooming itself to an endless game of catch-up.

Rest of the story in the Arizona Republic

SAVE THE DATE
Friday, 28 September, 2007
7:30am – 3:00pm
ARIZONA COMMUTER RAIL SYMPOSIUM

Learn about commuter and high speed rail in Arizona and other Western States.

Speakers invited from California, Washington State, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Sponsored by the Arizona Transit Association (AzTA) in co-ordination with the Arizona Rail Passenger Association (ARPA) and the Southwest Rail Corridor Coalition (SWRC).

The Arizona Republic
May. 18, 2007 02:33 PM

Arizona leaders are toying with the idea of using the [railway lines] that carry freight to shuttle passengers in the future and alleviate street and highway traffic as the state’s population grows to 16 million by 2050.

The idea is in its earliest stages. Community transportation leaders say labor union concerns could hijack the idea and that such a plan would require cooperation from a host of agencies and private companies.

“Heavy rail takes planning and it would require preserving the right of way now, working with Union Pacific now and working with the kinds of facilities (roads and businesses) that would come in the future,” Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman said.

Hallman is among Southeast Valley leaders pushing for commuter rail, sometimes called heavy rail. They said they believe the idea is a better alternative than widening Interstate 10 through Tempe, Ahwatukee and other parts of Phoenix…

Rest of the story in the Arizona Republic

(Tucson) Arizona Daily Star, May 6, 2007

Our view: Before gridlock sets in, let’s learn from Phoenix area, and our own past…

Tucson has a lot to learn from Phoenix. Communities in Maricopa County, and Phoenix in particular, tend to actually do the kinds of improvements – such as building a light-rail system – that Tucson only talks about. The Phoenix City Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to allocate $6 million for a study of extending its new and not yet launched light-rail system to Glendale…