Gilbert mayor answers anonymous text campaign against commuter rail

By Tom Blodgett
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Twitter: @sp_blodgett

An anonymous campaign text message blast sent July 14 condemning construction of a commuter rail line in Gilbert drew a response from Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson, laying out what the town’s intentions are.

The Gilbert Town Council plans to study on Aug. 23 a capital improvement project that includes a feasibility study for two stations in town, one at Cooley Station and the other in the Heritage District. The stations—which also would accommodate other modes of transit, including bus, bicycle, micromobility and ridesharing—would be along previously constructed rail line in case regional authorities launch such intercity passenger rail.

Study sessions do not have votes.

“Any claims regarding a newfound push by any members of this council for commuter rail or approval of construction is simply false, with the public Town Council meetings reflecting this,” Peterson said in a statement released in the evening of July 14.

In her statement, Peterson also said there are no “plans, discussions or any considerations” to bring light rail into Gilbert.

Town documents support Peterson’s statement. The Capital Improvement Plan describes the project, ST2070, the “Integrated Transit Center Dev(elopment) Plan” as being done to “identify opportunities for future high capacity transit use. This development plan should also include master planning the station for integrated uses in order to maximize the potential economic development opportunities.”

The project does not mention light rail and only budgets $290,000 for the project this year and nothing in the future, with $289,000 of it being for the study. 

Approval of  the study—which was to be conducted by American multinational engineering firm contracting AECOM at a cost of $288,760—was on council’s April 26 consent agenda, where multiple items can be passed together without discussion. The item was pulled from there by Vice Mayor Aimee Yentes, who called the study premature.

“I understand it’s been in planning documents, both for the town, for the Maricopa Association of Governments, but a deeper dive into whether this is even a good idea has not been held by this body,” Yentes said at the meeting.

Council Member Scott Anderson agreed, and Council Member Kathy Tilque proposed a study session. The council then unanimously tabled the issue until after the Aug. 23 study session.

The text blast sent July 14 targeted Peterson and two council members up for election in August, Yung Koprowski and Scott September as “pushing” for a commuter rail line.

“Bad idea!” the text message read. “Tax subsidies. Waves of homeless in Downtown & Cooley Station. Massive construction. Hurts small business. Wastes our tax dollars.”

It then urges the recipients to call Peterson, Koprowski and September to tell them they’re wrong on commuter rail.

The message was distributed from multiple out-of-state phone numbers that are busy when called.

Neither Koprowski nor September have campaigned on the issue, either for or against.

“I have never pushed for commuter rail, light rail or even the study for commuter rail,” September said.

In response to a Gilbert Independent questionnaire about transportation, three candidates have expressed opposition to commuter rail construction: Bobbi Buchli, Mario Chicas and Jim Torgeson. Buchli listed her opposition as a priority. Torgeson has included it on his campaign signs in town. No one indicated a position on a study.

In her statement, Peterson noted that the decision to put commuter rail through Gilbert will not be a council decision.

“Expansion of Amtrak is entirely a federal decision and outside the authority and scope of the Gilbert Town Council,” she said.

Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert
@sp_blodgett

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).