Today, Arizona’s State Transportation Board approved a state rail plan that should be a big step forward in potentially building passenger rail in Arizona.
Our friend Serena Unrein from PIRG wrote about today’s activities in the Huffington Post. Serena’s “On Track For Passenger Rail” article explains the details and lets us know some of the reasoning behind why many people are interested in the subject.
“The Arizona Department of Transportation now moves forward with a study to determine the best corridor for the Phoenix-Tucson intercity rail.” – Huffington Post
Today, I spoke with Serena and got to hear some more of the details of today’s events. “It’s a big deal” said Serena, there were over 1000 petitions signed in support and many small businesses have been very helpful in raising awareness for the need to have passenger rail in Arizona. If you want to learn more, feel free to join Serena along with Eric Emmert of the East Valley Chambers of Commerce Alliance, Small Business Owner Jade Meskill, and others on Monday to get the scoop. See the information below concerning Monday’s meeting: Of course you can follow PIRG on Twitter or check out their Facebook page for updates, as well. And, if you are really cool, you will check out RailLife on Facebook, too. 🙂
Businesses, Transportation Advocates Celebrate Passage of Plan to Bring Passenger Rail to Arizona and Highlight Potential for Arizona’s Economy
WHAT: Members of the business community and transportation advocates will celebrate the passage of the first-ever statewide plan for rail transportation in Arizona and discuss what it means for Arizona’s economy. The State Rail Plan, which was adopted by the State Transportation Board Friday, prioritizes passenger rail between Phoenix and Tucson. The State Rail Plan is a crucial first step for building passenger rail in Arizona.
WHEN: Monday, March 21, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.
WHO: Eric Emmert, East Valley Chambers of Commerce Alliance
Jade Meskill, Small Business Owner
Serena Unrein, Arizona PIRG Education Fund
WHERE: Phoenix Union Station
401 South 4th Avenue, Phoenix
CONTACT: Serena Unrein, Arizona PIRG Education Fund
Office: 602-252-9225
Thanks so much for posting about this!
I can’t wait for it to happen. I spent a bunch of time in traffic on the I-10 as I drove back from southern Arizona this afternoon and kept thinking how much better it will be for all of us when we can ride a train instead!
Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today. I’m looking forward to learning more about the process and the next steps!
I’ll keep you posted on any news I hear!
An interest group is touting the merits of high-speed rail in Arizona. …….A statewide rail plan that would start by linking Tucson and.Phoenix is a step toward giving Arizona residents a transportation.option that would relieve traffic congestion and improve air.quality an interest group contends…….. We ve seen that our roads are congested our air is polluted.and people are spending endless amounts of time in traffic said.Serena Unrein a public interest advocate for the Arizona Public.Interest Research Group……The group held a news conference Monday at an unused passenger.railroad station in downtown Phoenix to celebrate a recent vote by.the State Transportation Board to approve the statewide rail.plan.The plan outlines potential rail projects that would expand.passenger and freight rail across Arizona and make the state.eligible to compete for federal funds.One component is a three-year study looking into the possibility.of creating a rail route that would link Tucson and Phoenix. It.eventually would expand to include Prescott and Flagstaff in the.north and Sierra Vista and Douglas in the south Unrein said.She said an estimated 11 400 vehicles make the trip daily.between Phoenix and Tucson and said that number is expected to.triple by 2050.Vincent Lopez a spokesman for the Maricopa County Department of.Public Health said during the news conference that he supports the.passenger rail because it would improve public health. It ll help combat health issues and respiratory problems that.are a result of the pollution that comes from car transportation in.the Valley he said.Jade Meskill co-founder of Gangplank a Chandler-based company.that helps entrepreneurs develop ideas using technology is one of.more than 70 business leaders who endorsed the rail plan with.Unrein s group.