Arizona Rail Passenger Association

Tempe is more of a hub for Chandler residents than officials thought.Mike Normand, Chandler transportation planning manager, said he was surprised by a recent consultant’s report that estimates more than 15,000 people from west and central Chandler drive to Arizona State University every day and more than 60,000 make a daily Chandler-to-Tempe trip for business, shopping or dining…

The report was aired at a recent City Council study session. It’s part of a two-year study by Metro, which is trying to decide the best way to extend the initial 20-mile light-rail line being built…

Marc Soronson, project manager for the Tempe South Alternatives Analysis, said… his priority is extending the light rail line… to Southern Avenue… Normand said Chandler wants to be at the table [on further extensions]…

Planners’ biggest hurdles will be putting a light rail line over or under a Union Pacific track north of Broadway Road and extending a rail line on the already congested Rural Road..

Jyme Sue McLaren, deputy public works manager for Tempe, said city designers are preparing to suggest a hybrid light rail line along Rural Road that would share left turn lanes with cars and wouldn’t requiring elimination of driving lanes or destruction of street-side businesses.

Rest of the story in the Arizona Republic