Governor's Task Force on High Speed Rail

Traffic and Population Growth in Phoenix-Tucson area will demand additional capacity. The existing roads alone, even if upgraded, will not be enough.

Traffic on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson is projected to increase 67 percent by the year 2020.
The existing four lane highway is expected to reach full capacity sometime before the year 2005.
The population in the Phoenix-Tucson area is expected to increase 50 percent over the next two decades.
If no other actions are taken to relieve traffic congestion, I-10 in the area of the I-8 junction will need to be widened to six lanes before 2005, and to eight lanes before 2020.

Latest Developments

May 30, 1998: ADOT Director Mary Peters addresses the ARPA Open House
May 1998: ADOT has recently completed the first phase of the Arizona High Speed Rail Feasibility Study, and has accepted ARPA's offer to take the Study to the next phase of implementation. The first phase of the Study recommends an initial phase of minor upgrades to the existing rail line, using conventional diesel-electric locomotives and push- pull style passenger cars. Incremental upgrades — grade separations and higher operating speeds — would be made as ridership develops and funding becomes available. The final phase would be a partially elevated, exclusive right-of-way, high speed rail electric passenger service between Phoenix and Tucson
Map of Proposed and Optional Stations
Article: "Tucson train: $3.8 billion and years off, study says" The Arizona Republic, March 17, 1998, page B1. The report of the High Speed Rail Task Force "recommended that rail service start using the Union Pacific tracks and conventional diesel engines. This would cost $379 million and allow train travel at a top speed of 79 mph. Over time, the report calls for further improvements... a better signal system and straightening some curves could improve diesel speeds to 100mph."
March 1998: ARPA is considering its role in continuing this study.

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