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
