Arizona Rail Passenger Association

Full story by Sean Holstege in the Arizona Republic, 14 April 2010

Changing demographics, ridership patterns point to different lines in future

Regional planners are mapping new light-rail lines in places that were inconceivable a few years ago, as they grapple with how urban Arizona takes shape in the coming half-century.

Preliminary studies show that sufficient demand will exist for light rail to succeed on 44th Street, Camelback Road, south Central Avenue, Bell Road and other routes not previously planned, building a web far more expansive than what is currently envisioned…

(Regarding current discussions of Phoenix-Tucson regional rail)

Adopted by the Board of Directors, 2009-1-17.

RESOLVED THAT,

ARPA believes

• That the current UPRR alignment via Coolidge represents the most expeditious route to early implementation, and should be implemented and built first; and
• That the former Maricopa to Tempe alignment, to supplement future growth, should additionally be planned, but built after operations on the Coolidge alignment commence.

Light rail made its Tempe debut Wednesday and drew public reactions varying from disgust to delight.

A single train crossed Town Lake shortly after 1 p.m. and was tested throughout the afternoon along the rail track that cuts through downtown Tempe, across Mill Avenue and near Wells Fargo Arena.

Rest of the story in the Arizona Republic

by Glen Creno in The Arizona Republic, Feb. 29, 2008

Plans for passenger rail in Arizona are moving forward, but significant hurdles remain before any system is built.

The Maricopa Association of Governments has released a long-awaited draft of its commuter-rail study, which outlines three options that would haul commuters from Phoenix suburbs into job centers in the central city. At the same time, key players in developing high-speed rail between Phoenix and Tucson have joined together to seek money to plan a system…

Rest of the story in the Arizona Republic

The Maricopa Association of Governments Commuter Rail Strategic Plan is now available for download from: http://www.mag.maricopa.gov/project.cms?item=7338