Building on the success of the Valley Metro Light Rail system, the Arizona Department of Transportation is looking to lay more tracks in more places. The latest idea proposes an intercity passenger rail system between Phoenix and Tucson.
I think the idea of a passenger train between Phoenix and Tucson is a FANTASTIC idea. Have you ever made the drive between these two cities along Interstate 10? It is remarkably boring. I would love to just buy a ticket, close my eyes and take a rest, and wake up at my destination.
Of course, in the real world, building a 120-mile train system costs a lot of money to build and to operate. Who would put up the money to build this transportation system? It's too soon to say for sure. Currently, ADOT is just conducting a feasibility study to see if the whole thing is even possible.
ADOT officials are looking at three different routes which the proposed train might take. Below is a map showing the three "corridors" under consideration.
It is not yet known which route will be chosen or if the Phoenix to Tucson train will ever be built. Still, it is an interesting idea and one that I think deserves some serious thought.
Update: This project was a five-year study which began in 2011 and concluded in September 2015. It studied two routes, the Yellow Alternative and the Orange Alternative. What the study found was that the Yellow Alternative was the most feasible route for a passenger train between the two cities.
The study provided a Capital Cost Estimate of $4.2 to $5.1 billion dollars for the 120 mile corridor, which includes railroad track, bridge structures, and a signal system. These costs were based on a diesel train system traveling at 125 mph, similar to Amtrak's Acela route in the Northeast.
According to ADOT: "There is currently no construction schedule and no funding identified for a project to build a rail system between Tucson and Phoenix. Moving forward, the public and policymakers will decide how to generate the funding to pay for the project."
https://azdot.gov/planning/transportation-programs/state-rail-plan/passenger-rail-study-tucson-phoenix
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