PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation announced Friday an executive leadership team to guide the continued study of potential passenger rail service between Phoenix and Tucson.

The group includes the governor’s office, ADOT and metropolitan planning organizations for Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties: the Maricopa Association of Governments, Pima Association of Governments and Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization. 

“Investing in passenger rail between Phoenix and Tucson holds enormous promise for economic growth and employment, and would mean more transportation options for more Arizonans," Gov. Katie Hobbs said.

ADOT officials are moving toward the next step of creating a service development plan that would: 

• Identify the number and location of stations along the route based on travel demand, technical feasibility, local support and considerations, such as access to critical facilities like airports and universities. 
• Locate needed infrastructure improvements such as additional track or maintenance facilities that will support service operations.
• Forecast ridership and revenues, determine service operations (such as number of trips and travel time), estimate capital and maintenance costs and recommend a phased implementation for the service. 

Using a $500,000 federal grant, ADOT has completed and submitted a proposed scope, budget, schedule and planned steps to prepare the service development plan, according to a release.

The proposed Phoenix-Tucson passenger rail corridor extends approximately 160 miles  between Tucson and Buckeye. Arizona’s application anticipates three daily round trips, though the service development plan will make firm recommendations, the release stated.

For more: azdot.gov/AZRailStudy.