Arizona Rail Passenger Association

by Sean Holstege – May. 11, 2010
The Arizona Republic

…modern, electrified streetcars are making a comeback around the country, including in Arizona.

In February, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Tucson a $63 million grant to help build a 4-mile streetcar line linking the University of Arizona and downtown. Arizona’s second-largest city beat out hundreds of competitors for the money.

In Tempe, momentum is building behind a proposed 2 ½-mile streetcar line along Mill Avenue that would connect with the Valley’s starter light-rail line. Planners found that the streetcar is cheaper in an era of tight budgets and quicker to build than an originally conceived light-rail spur on Rural Road…

Rest of the story in the Arizona Republic

…Although Metro’s passenger service isn’t set to begin until late December, earlier this week the rail line through Tempe into Mesa saw its first train. It was a test run, one of many scheduled over the coming months…Hallman, while touting light rail as part of an integrated transportation system, took the opportunity to voice support for commuter rail.

Commuter rail is a transit alternative that would be part of a $42 billion transportation ballot initiative that may go before Arizona voters in November…

Rest of the story in the East Valley Tribune

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

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

According to the East Valley Tribune (see full story in the 15 March edition):

Mayor Hugh Hallman’s re-election was practically assured before the polls opened… Hallman, the only mayoral candidate on the ballot, received 12,839 votes, according to the official results…

Hallman, in an Arizona Republic Election Question Special, said:

…we need to continue our lead in moving the outer communities to commuter rail options to reduce the growing pressure on local freeways..

Also according to the Tribune,

Mark Mitchell [incumbent] was the only candidate to win outright… The other incumbent in the race, Hut Hutson, did not win outright and faces a four-way runoff on May 20 for the remaining two seats against challengers Julie Jakubek, Joel Navarro and Corey Woods…

Mitchell, in the Republic special, said he wants to work on:

working with our Scottsdale and Chandler city councils to extend light rail to their communities. …[and] start looking at whether commuter rail would help alleviate congestion on our roadways.