Tucson Metro Area

• The citizens group, Tucsonans for Sensible Transit supports light rail in Tucson

Phoenix Metro Area

• We congratulate the citizens of Phoenix on passing the Transit 2000 initiative on March 14, 2000. Work is now progressing on Valley Metro Rail.
• Current news clippings
• 
  The Light Rail Proposal
• ARPA Endorses Valley Connections Light Rail April, 1999
• Arizona Rail -- A Connecting Regional Rail System
  • Regional Map showing Light Rail and Regional Rail lines
• Historic precedent: Phoenix Street Railway Co.
• Opinions and Letters:
  • Let's not delay - William Lindley
  • Robert Barber on Light Rail

See also

• Valley Metro

Phoenix Light Rail Alignment

Bridge under construction, October 2005

• The 20 mile starter segment of the light rail line began construction in early 2005.  By October 2005, most of the tracks were in place at the maintenance yard, and the structures were partially built.
• Operations are scheduled for early 2008. 
• The initial route begins in Phoenix at 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road at Spectrum (formerly Chris-Town) Mall, traveling through downtown Phoenix and Tempe and about a mile into Mesa, ending near Longmore and Main Streets. 
• PHOENIX - "[Light] Rail route urged near downtown" (including map) The Arizona Republic 25 October 2000. QUOTE: "Phoenix's planned light-rail train will run near the city's major downtown sports venues, courts, office buildings and Sky Harbor International Airport, if city planners have their way. Transit planners are suggesting the trains follow all one-way streets in downtown and east Phoenix: heading south on First Avenue from Roosevelt Street, east on Jefferson Street to Tempe, west on Washington Street, and north on Central Avenue to Roosevelt. Planners will urge a City Council subcommittee to adopt those routes today, saying they would attract more commuters than others studied."
• Map, Phoenix segment of the proposed system courtesy lightrail.com

What will the approved Transit 2000 do?

• A much better bus system, complemented by light rail, will add travel capacity during peak periods.
• Commuters and students, the elderly and handicapped, shoppers and tourists will all find it easier to get where they are going.
• Rail systems especially encourage development within our existing urban areas, diminishing the need for urban sprawl and the destruction of our Sonoran Desert.
• Our existing Phoenix bus system already carries over 10% of all trips on Central Avenue during peak periods. A much improved system across Phoenix and the Valley will extend reasonable transportation options to many more people.
• Light rail is a proven system which works in cities like Denver, Dallas, Portland, Saint Louis, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and San Jose. (Here is a complete list of existing and proposed systems.)
  • Every day in Los Angeles, over 100,000 people ride the train. And if Los Angelenos, who are probably the more attached to their automobiles than anywhere else, will ride it, we will too.
  • Salt Lake City projected its new TRAX light-rail system to carry 14,000 by the end of its first year, but already ridership is nearly double that. 44% of those riding TRAX never previously rode public transit.

Light Rail is a vital part of an integrated transportation system which includes rail, bus, road, and pedestrian elements.