The dream of countless travelers hoping for an alternative to the nearly two-hour drive along the desolate stretch of Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix has inched closer to reality.
Three possible routes for a proposed rail line between Tucson and Phoenix were unveiled by the Arizona Department of Transportation Tuesday, giving road-weary commuters between the state's two largest metropolitan areas their first look at a possible alternative to driving the 120 miles each way.
Planning is still in the earliest of stages, and no funding for the estimated $5 billion to $10 billion project has been identified, said Laura Douglas, a spokesperson for the state agency.
The three proposals - identified by ADOT by the colors green, yellow and orange - offer different paths between the two areas. Two of the routes serve stops in Maricopa County's East Valley, while the third largely follows Interstate 10.
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The southern half of the proposed rail lines is the same, sticking close to I-10 from Eloy to the terminus at Tucson International Airport.
ADOT has spent the last two years looking into the project, working closely with the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and planning organizations in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties as well as local jurisdictions to determine which routes deserved a closer look.
Officials said public input from 7,000 Arizona residents helped ADOT to choose to abandon several scenarios.
The state is no longer considering the Blue Alternative, which would have established an express bus service along I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson, or the Red Alternative, which went through western Pinal County. Also no longer being considered is the Purple Alternative, which would have served some East Valley communities, along with Sacaton and Casa Grande in Pinal County.
"The support for a passenger rail system that connects our state's two largest metropolitan areas has been tremendous," said ADOT Director John Halikowski. "A passenger rail line will not only connect communities, but also economies. It's not only a plan: It's an investment in Arizona's future."
A commuter train line between Tucson and Phoenix has had the backing of the Tucson Airport Authority for several months, with the board of directors voting unanimously earlier this year to support ADOT's efforts.
"They are very excited," said Jordan Feld, the director of planning for the TAA.
Jeff Daneff, a Gilbert resident who starts his new job at Oro Valley Hospital next month, said he wishes the state would break ground already on the multibillion-dollar project.
While he is excited about his new position, he is less excited about his long commute between the two cities. He has spent countless hours looking for a way to either carpool or find public transportation between the two metro areas. "It is not economical to drive 150 miles every day," he said.
ADOT officials expect to identify the final route by the end of the year.
"A passenger rail line will not only connect communities, but also economies. It's not only a plan: It's an investment in Arizona's future."
John Halikowski
ADOT Director
Contact reporter Joe Ferguson at jferguson@azstarnet.com or 573-4346.
