From today’s Arizona Republic –
Metro will ask the state to find $1.7 billion in state money to speed up light-rail plans and add extensions.
Metro Executive Director Rick Simonetta outlined the request at the agency’s meeting Wednesday. He wants to finish the voter-approved 57-mile system in 2020 rather than 2025 and add 23 miles of track by 2027…
Metro’s request must be approved by the Maricopa Association of Governments, which would forward it on to the Arizona Department of Transportation. ADOT Public Transportation Director Jim Dickey said no proposal is off the table, but the extent of the requests is substantial…
Metro will have to compete with calls for a statewide commuter rail network that’s widely expected to cost more than $1 billion. Sky Harbor Airport also said it would consider seeking money to complete a $1.1 billion people-mover connection to light rail.
