23 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Generally, putting passenger rail in the center of interstates is not a good idea because station placement inhibits passenger convenience.

Well as we've seen with New Mexico's RailRunner, the tracks that were laid in the median of I-25 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe seem to work well. That may be because the median is very wide, thus there is a buffer between the trains and vehicular traffic. On the other side of the coin, looking at rapid transit lines in highway medians, it was a horrible idea. The noise and air pollution are dangerous and annoying in places like Chicago and Los Angeles.

[Sloan]

 

 

Transportation roundtable: Study may plot Phoenix-Tucson commuter rail

 

A study by ADOT looks into a commuter rail from Phoenix to Tucson.

Sorry, subscription required to view whole article.

 

http://www.bizjourna...ot-phoenix.html

 

This article gives detail even though it appeared nearly March 2015:

 

http://tucson.com/ne...06b70ab501.html

Edited by Sloan, 07 July 2015 - 10:31 AM.

[Sloan]

 

 

Along proposed commuter rail line, leaders see growth potential
A lot would have to happen before a commuter rail line passes through Queen Creek, but Mayor Gail Barney sees great potential in the idea.

 

http://azcapitoltime...owth-potential/

[CNJRoss]

A DOT web site:

 

Passenger Rail Study: Tucson to Phoenix

• Overview
• Alternatives
• Types of Rail
• NEPA Requirements
• Library
• State Rail Plan
• DEIS

ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study Draft Tier 1 EIS Is Now Available for Review!

The Arizona Department of Transportation has been working closely with the Federal Railroad Administration and other federal agencies, as well as local governments and planning organizations in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties to determine which routes will move forward for further study. To support that effort, a Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared and is now available for public review.

 

The decision to pursue the alternatives in the Draft Tier 1 EIS came not only from technical evaluations, but was also largely based on public and agency input. During the last four years of the study, more than 10,000 people across Arizona have completed surveys to weigh in with their ideas of which routes best served their communities.

 

The proposed passenger rail line will be designed as a blended service: An express service would have few stops between Tucson and Phoenix, and a local service would stop at several communities along the way.

 

There is currently no construction schedule and no funding identified for a project to build a rail system between Tucson and Phoenix. It will be up to the public and policymakers to decide if the project is feasible and how to generate the funding to pay for the project.

 

Draft Tier 1 EIS and Public Comment

The objective of a Draft Tier 1 EIS is to obtain comments from the public on matters pertaining to the conduct and recommendations of the Draft Tier 1 EIS. The document is available for review. ADOT has scheduled three public hearings for community members to attend and provide comments. Public hearings will be held:

• Sept. 15: 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Phoenix Public Library, Burton Barr (1st Floor Pulliam Auditorium); 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 85004
• Sept. 16: 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Tucson Convention Center (Leo Rich Theater); 260 S. Church Ave., Tucson, 85701
• Sept. 17: 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Central Arizona College, Signal Peak Campus (Room M101); 8470 N. Overfield Road, Coolidge, 85128

The deadline for all public comments is Oct. 30, 2015. Comments may be provided at one of the hearings, submitted using the comment form, emailed to projects@azdot.gov, or mailed or faxed to:

ADOT Passenger Rail Study Team
c/o Central Creative
24 W. Camelback Rd #479
Phoenix, AZ 85013
FAX: 602.368.9645

 

 

More here.