Within the metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson areas, further track and signal upgrades, and closure of some grade crossings, could significantly increase both rail speeds and public safety. A few examples will illustrate this point.
Tempe has a city restriction on train speeds, dating to the times of steam locomotives. This should be lifted, accompanied by track improvements and the re-timing of gates to account for the higher speeds. As a result, traffic delays caused by trains would be significantly reduced.
In downtown Phoenix there are many streets which cross the railroad at grade, many within one or two blocks of each other. Closing several of these, perhaps replaced by a strategically positioned bridge or underpass, and upgrading the protection devices at the remaining crossings could benefit both rail and vehicular traffic while decreasing accidents.
Grand Avenue, which lies parallel to the BNSF line northwest from downtown Phoenix through Sun City, presents a series of challenges. Running at an angle to the main grid of streets, Grand Avenue creates six-way intersections complicated by the grade crossings. ADOT is considering several solutions, including flyovers for many streets. Regardless of which is chosen, it is imperative for the success of commuter rail in this corridor that the BNSF line be expanded to at least two main tracks, plus lead tracks used for servicing the adjacent industries.
Looking to Northern Arizona, the Williams depot has been beautifully restored by the Grand Canyon Railway. However, it is now limited to a single track and platform. Furthermore, the connection to the BNSF line may only be entered from the south; a train traveling from Wickenburg and Phoenix, after stopping at Williams, would have to back up through the turnout to continue east toward Flagstaff. To add a train from Southern to Northern Arizona as shown in the goals above would require construction of a second track and platform, relocation of the BNSF through track further away from the depot, and construction of a track connection to the BNSF north of the depot.
Improvements such as these are a prerequisite to Phoenix-Tucson high speed and urban commuter rail service. Amtrak, the freight railroads and the businesses which depend on them, and travelers on Arizona's highways would benefit as well.