Arizona News -- September 2001You are invited to our Fifth Annual Awards Banquet, to be held Wednesday, October 3 [2001] at the Chaparral Suites Hotel, 5001 North Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, Arizona.
the Byron A. Nordberg Award will be presented to Ken Driggs, Regional Public Transportation Authority, in recognition of his support of passenger rail in the public sector.
The George R. Loulan Award will be presented to Dave and Linda Durbano, Verde Canyon Railroad, in recognition of their support of passenger rail in the private sector.
The reception will be at 6:00 p.m., with dinner at 7:00 p.m. Business attire.
Golden Spike Table Sponsorships are $1,000 for a table of ten and will receive special recognition at the dinner.
Individual tickets are $50.00 each.
Please telephone 480/947-5710 for an R.S.V.P. card or to reserve your place. Please have your reservation in by September 24. We accept MasterCard and Visa.
Tucson's Old Pueblo Trolley, the first of Arizona's streetcar systems to be revived, is building a wye to permit turning its cars in preparation for pending extensions at both ends of the system.
Light rail proponents in Tucson have seen a tremendous community interest. Over two hundred thirty citizens have become involved so far! ARPA encourages the Tucsonans for Sensible Transportation in their quest for light rail as part of a balanced transportation system in Arizona. Their website is: http://www.tucsonlightrail.org
ARPA has received a copy of the Commuter Rail section of the "Marana Transportation Update." This study examines the feasibility of implementing commuter rail service to alleviate traffic congestion on I-10 between Marana and Tucson.
Drawing from previous studies and updating them to current conditions, the study recommends five stations: Cortaro Farms, Orange Grove, Tucson Depot, Irving / TEP, and Aero Park / Tucson International Airport. Two four-car trainsets would provide a starting schedule of four round trips, each one-way trip of 15.7 miles lasting about 28 minutes, with an average speed of 52 mph (i.e., 18 minutes travel time, 10 minutes total station dwell time).
Capital costs would be just under $100 million with an annual operating budget of under $1.5 million. The study looked at a variety of funding options from local to Federal, but did not estimate ridership or farebox receipts.
ARPA encourages Southern Arizona to push forward and be a leader in this state.
By October, we expect the commuter rail study contract will be awarded to a transportation consulting firm. This is a joint study sponsored by MAG and RPTA. The study, to last about one year, will look at all existing and any possible future rail corridors in the Valley, and will build on already-completed rail passenger studies.
12 September - Light rail opponent Gene Ganssle failed to unseat rail supporter Neil Giuliano in Tuesday's recall election. Giuliano was re-elected by 68% of city voters.