You remember ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor study, right?

It’s being used to look the possibility of using rail to link Phoenix and Tucson. Late last year, the public was asked to weigh in on seven potential alternatives. Since then, ADOT has been able to utilize that feedback and narrow the list of possible alternatives from seven down to three.

Which three alternatives made the cut?

ADOT is moving forward with studying the Green Alternative, which would run along I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson; the Orange Alternative, which would serve East Valley population centers and share part of its alignment with the planned North-South Freeway Corridor; and the Yellow Alternative, which would also serve East Valley communities and share right of way with Union Pacific Railroad north of Eloy. All three alternatives would run along I-10 south of Eloy. For planning purposes, the Teal Alternative, which is a combination of the Orange and Yellow Alternatives, is being evaluated as an additional option.

ADOT has been working closely with the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and local governments and planning organizations in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties to determine which routes would move forward for further study. The decision to pursue these three alternatives came not only from technical evaluations, but was also largely based on public input. During the last two years of the study, nearly 7,000 people across Arizona completed surveys to weigh in with their ideas of which routes best served communities.

What about the routes that were ruled out?

The alternatives that are not moving forward for further study include the Blue Alternative, which would have established an express bus service along I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson; the Red Alternative, which goes through western Pinal County; and the Purple Alternative, which serves some East Valley communities, along with Sacaton and Casa Grande in Pinal County. The study still includes the no-build option.

What’s next?

Now that the three final alternatives have been identified for further study, ADOT and the study team will move forward with the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement.

There will be a 45-day public comment period early next year, along with three public hearings, that will address the Draft EIS and allow the public and stakeholders to comment on the document.

This fall, ADOT will participate in another round of public outreach events in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties to provide community members with information on the progress of the study and the next steps. ADOT is working toward establishing the one preferred alternative for further study by the end of 2013 and wrapping up the study next year.

Ultimately ADOT’s passenger rail line will be designed as a blended service: An express service would have few stops between Phoenix and Tucson and a local service would stop at several communities along the way. There is currently no construction schedule and no funding identified for a project to build a rail system between Phoenix and Tucson. It will be up to the public and policymakers to decide if the project is feasible and how to generate the funding to pay for the project.

For more information visit ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study website.

It was just two months ago that ADOT again put a call out to the public seeking input on the possibility of a passenger rail line between Phoenix and Tucson…

Since that time, we’ve heard from many of you – 461 paper comment forms have been submitted so far, along with 2,050 online surveys and 750 additional comments.

But if you haven’t yet voiced your thoughts on the seven alternatives that have been selected for further study, don’t worry, there’s still some time to share your views before the public comment period wraps up on Dec. 15.

Some background…
In the year since the first public involvement campaign last fall, ADOT has identified six potential rail alternatives and one express bus alternative that could link Phoenix and Tucson, while meeting demands for future growth and travel options along I-10, one of the busiest interstate corridors in Arizona.

The alternatives for passenger rail all focus on a blended service that would provide both an intercity service that directly connects the two metro areas and a commuter service that would focus on more frequent stops for daily commuters.

How to give your input 
In an effort to reach out to the public for ideas and opinions, ADOT attended several community events this fall. There is just one more remaining – the Mesa Arts Festival: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 8 and 9, One East Main Street, Mesa.

If you attend, please stop by the ADOT booth and share your input…

But, if you won’t be in the area, you can visit our webpage to learn about the alignments and complete an online survey.

More on the study
Should the study conclude that a passenger rail line is feasible between Phoenix and Tucson, ADOT would complete further planning and environmental studies and development activities prior to construction of any segment in the corridor.

There is currently no funding identified to build a passenger rail line. ADOT will work with the public, stakeholders and policymakers to identify a funding source, should the project move forward.

More information on ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study is available online.

If you read this blog post last month, you already know that ADOT is making a call to the public for input on the Passenger Rail Corridor Study...

You’re also aware that this study’s purpose is to examine the feasibility of a passenger rail line between Phoenix and Tucson.

But, maybe you don’t know that since we last blogged about the study, ADOT has been out to several community events talking with thousands of people (see photos above). These events have included Coolidge Days, Tucson Meet Yourself, CityScape downtown Phoenix lunch hour, Maricopa Stagecoach Days, Gilbert’s Fall Festival and the Arizona State Fair!

The community events, along with ADOT’s media and social media outreach, have yielded the following:

• Over 1,300 online surveys completed
• 348 comment forms received
• More than 100 comments received via email or mail

What’s next?
Comments are being accepted through Dec. 15 and there are still several community events that ADOT will be participating in through the rest of this year.

You can also go online to get all the information you need on the study – while you’re there, you can complete a quick online questionnaire about the potential corridor alignments.

In fall 2011 ADOT launched a study examining the feasibility of a passenger rail line or express bus service between Phoenix and Tucson.

At that time, ADOT asked for the public’s input regarding rail and other transportation alternatives between these two metropolitan areas. (You might remember this blog post or this one?)

ADOT received a lot of comments (3,075 to be exact) and was able to move forward by identifying six potential rail alternatives and one express bus alternative. These are routes that could link Phoenix and Tucson, while meeting demands for future growth and travel options along one of the busiest interstate corridors in Arizona.

A new opportunity to voice your opinion…
ADOT is again calling on the public to provide input. We want to know what you think of the seven alternatives that have been selected for further study.

To get this feedback, ADOT is participating in a series of community events in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties to reach out to community members and get ideas and opinions on the seven options. The public can also participate by taking an online survey. The public comment period runs through Dec. 15.

Along with the seven potential alignments, ADOT is studying sites for station locations. The alignments include system hubs located near downtown Phoenix and downtown Tucson, and each includes extensions beyond the system hubs that would link to the west Phoenix metropolitan area, as well as Tucson International Airport.

Next Steps… 
Based on the technical analysis and the public input received this fall, ADOT will then narrow the seven alternatives down to two or three final options in early 2013. Once the study ends in late 2013, ADOT is expected to select a locally preferred alternative.

Should the study conclude that a passenger rail line or bus service is feasible between Phoenix and Tucson, ADOT would complete further planning and environmental studies and development activities prior to construction of any segment in the corridor.

There is currently no funding identified to build a passenger rail line. ADOT will work with the public, stakeholders and policymakers to identify a funding source, should the project move forward.

The new year officially is here, but before we dive into 2012 we’re going to take a quick look back.

ADOT’s Public Information/Media Relations team came up with a great list of the state’s major transportation accomplishments from 2011 and we thought we’d share it here on the blog!

From new freeway openings to the approval of ADOT’s Long Range Transportation Plan, here's a look at some of the highlights …

Phoenix Area Freeways:

Loop 303 Opens

ADOT widened major stretches of Phoenix area freeways in 2011 and opened the first new segment of freeway to be built under the Maricopa Association of Government’s 20-year Regional Transportation Plan. Fourteen miles of Loop 303 were opened in May between Interstate 17 and Happy Valley Parkway in Peoria, allowing drivers for the first time to use Loop 303 to make the 39-mile trip between I-17 and I-10.

HOV Lane Additions

Drivers benefited from two accelerated projects to add High Occupancy Vehicle lanes along Loops 101 and 202. The final 30 miles of HOV lanes along Loop 101 between State Route 51 in north Phoenix and I-10 in Tolleson were opened in stages during the year and completed in November. Meanwhile, in the Chandler area, 12 miles of carpool lanes were completed this fall along Loop 202 Santan Freeway between I-10 and Gilbert Road.

I-10 Widening in West Valley

Another significant milestone was marked in August with the completion of ADOT’s three-year initiative to reconstruct and widen I-10 between Loop 101 and Verrado Way. Those projects modernized I-10, transforming what had been a limited highway with two lanes in each direction into a modern freeway that now provides as many as five lanes in each direction – including carpool lanes.

State Highway System:

Mescal Road/J-Six Ranch Road Bridge

Just over six months after a fiery crash damaged the Mescal Road/J-Six Ranch Road bridge, ADOT swiftly rebuilt the bridge to reconnect the Cochise County communities of Mescal and J-Six Ranch, which were separated by I-10 and depend on the overpass for convenient access to goods, services and neighbors. While the bridge was out of service, residents and workers in the Benson-area communities were required to take lengthy detours around I-10 to reach the other side of the highway. Federal Highway Administration emergency relief funds, a shortened time frame for designing the replacement bridge and a quick construction bid process all helped put the project on the fast track. A typical bridge construction project can take up to two years.

State Route 260 Widening

Continuing a decade-long commitment to expand the capacity of SR 260, ADOT completed a project to widen the highway starting 15 miles east of Payson from Little Green Valley to Thompson Draw. The $20 million project is the fourth of six projects to construct a four-lane divided highway from Star Valley to the top of the Mogollon Rim.

State Route 87 Improvements

ADOT fulfilled its commitment to complete SR 87 improvements before the Memorial Day weekend and in time for the busy tourism season in the Rim Country. The $11.8 million reconstruction and widening project included the addition of a third southbound lane to enhance safety and traffic flow along the uphill stretch during drives between Payson and the Phoenix area. The improvements were the latest in a series of projects during the last two decades to enhance travel on SR 87, which is now a divided four-lane highway between Mesa and Payson.

US 93 Widening Project

Shortly after ADOT completed a $71.3 million widening project on the US 93 approach to the new Hoover Dam bypass bridge in 2010, the first Desert Bighorn Sheep were spotted in February using one of the three wildlife crossings that were constructed to protect motorists and provide a safe crossing for the native animals. The project earned ADOT several honors this year, including the Arizona Chapter American Public Works Association Award, 2011 Public Works Project of the Year and FHWA’s 2011 Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative Award for the agency’s creative and innovative solution to balance motorists’ safety, while protecting wildlife and connecting ecosystems.

Hassayampa River Bridge Project

Just in time for the Fourth of July weekend, ADOT completed a $3.9 million bridge project over the Hassayampa River on I-10, approximately 40 miles west of downtown Phoenix. This area is a major route for travelers heading to and from California along I-10.

Overnight Bridge Demolition

On a late April night in southern Arizona, ADOT tore down two bridges in 10 hours – no small task. ADOT had already planned to remove the old Marsh Station bridge, which required a 67-mile overnight detour for motorists on I-10 east of Tucson. About three weeks before the demolition was set to occur, two semi trucks collided under the overpass at the Mescal Road/J-Six Ranch Road bridge. The bridge was badly damaged from the resulting fire and would have to be replaced.

Planning and Programming:

Long Range Transportation Plan

For more than two years, ADOT worked toward developing the state’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, a blueprint that looks 25 years into the future to determine how to plan for and fund transportation projects that keep up with Arizona’s needs. The State Transportation Board formally approved the Long Range Transportation Plan, also known as What Moves You Arizona, in November, allowing ADOT planners to move ahead with their work to develop a transportation system that will carry Arizona into the future. The award-winning program was nationally recognized for planning and involving the public.

Intercity Rail Study

In October, ADOT kicked off the public outreach phase of its intercity rail study. The study’s goal is to identify if there is a need for intercity rail along I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Over the course of a month, ADOT gathered information, data and comments. The agency will provide its findings to the public and to policymakers, so they can make an informed decision about how to move forward. ADOT is looking at all options, which include rail, transit—and the option to build nothing at all. The study will be complete in 2013.

Bicycle Safety Action Plan

As part of our public safety plan, ADOT is developing a Bicycle Safety Action Plan to help keep cyclists safe on Arizona’s highways. The goal is to reduce the number of bicycle crashes with motor vehicles and improve safety for both cyclists and drivers.  The goal of the Bicycle Safety Action Plan is to reduce the total number of bicycle crashes on Arizona highways by 12 percent by 2018.

Safe Routes to School

This year, nearly $3.5 million in grant funding was distributed by ADOT for 21 Safe Routes to School projects for schools and communities statewide. Eight of these projects, totaling $2.8 million, were designated for infrastructure improvements, such as the construction of sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, signage and striping. An additional 13 projects, totaling $720,000, went toward non-infrastructure elements, such as providing bike helmets to students, safety education and law enforcement. All Safe Routes to School projects are designed to get kids walking or biking and adopt healthy habits.

Motor Vehicle Division and Enforcement and Compliance Division:

Motor Vehicle Division

MVD continued to improve the quality of customer service at MVD offices by shortening the wait times for the more common motor vehicle and driver license transactions, while serving over 3.5 million customers at MVD’s 54 offices or satellite/specialized offices in 2011 The average wait time per transaction was approximately 19 minutes, compared to over 45 minutes just five years ago. Throughout the year, MVD also provided transaction assistance to returning soldiers with the U.S. Army Intelligence Command at Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona. ADOT also launched several new specialty license plates, including the long-awaited Arizona Centennial plate.

Enforcement and Compliance Division

ADOT officers conducted Operation Bullhead, joint-agency commercial vehicle enforcement operation in Mohave County at the request of Bullhead City officials. ADOT officers recovered stolen vehicles identified during inspections. The enforcement division also created a Single Trip Overweight International Border Permit program for produce transporters out of Mexico and assisted local law enforcement with scrap metal yard investigations.

Other Accomplishments:

Grand Canyon National Park Airport

In June, the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, owned and operated by ADOT, began daily 737 airline service from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Travelers can now book a flight on Vision Airlines out of Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. The new service is the first step in a larger vision to make it easier for all tourists to visit the canyon. The Transportation Security Administration was also stationed at the airport this year, making it easier for airline companies to fly into the airport, since they no longer have to provide their own passenger screening.

Earlier we told you about the new intercity rail study that’s going to help ADOT examine the possibility of a new transportation link between Phoenix and Tucson. 

But, today, we really want to focus on why ADOT conducts studies like this one.

It all starts with something called the National Environmental Policy Act...

NEPA was passed in 1969 and is designed to make sure all levels of government take the environment into consideration when developing projects that involve federal involvement.

Federal actions that are likely to have an impact on the surrounding environment are subject by NEPA to the Environmental Impact Statement process, which is what ADOT is working toward developing with the Intercity Rail Study.

One of the purposes of an EIS is to identify impacts a project might have on its surroundings.

To give you an idea of the scope of an EIS, here are just a few of the categories that are taken into consideration:

• Archaeological and historic sites
• Vegetation and wildlife
• Air and water quality
• Social conditions
• Economics
• Floodplains
• Water resources

The EIS process has several steps and right now we’re at the very beginning. Public comment is really important at this stage ... now is the time for residents of the area to speak up and let ADOT know what aspects of their environment need to be analyzed!

After this initial “scoping” period ends, we’ll move on to create an Alternative Analysis Report. This will identify all alternative modes and routes of transportation to be studied, including a “no-build” option (your input is especially important in determining these alternatives).

From there, an environmental impact analysis is completed and another formal opportunity for public comment is given, however public comment is encouraged throughout the process by accessing the website. After that, a final EIS is written and a recommendation is made.

The process involves many steps, but the goal is to get enough information to develop a project alternative that’s going to best fit the needs of the state!

More on the environmental process can be found on our new intercity rail study website. (/planning/transportation-programs/state-rail-plan/passenger-rail-study-tucson-phoenix)

If you travel between these two major metropolitan areas, the Arizona Department of Transportation wants to hear from you!

Today ADOT launches a series of public involvement tools to help explore the different travel options that could exist between the two cities. Those options might include rail, transit, or even a no-action plan.

Together with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, ADOT hopes to use the public feedback to determine some potential corridors and narrow down the types of transportation options to explore. The feedback will also assist in completing an alternatives analysis and an environmental impact study.

So...how can you get involved?

Tonight is the first of 12 open house events being held over the next month in Pima, Pinal and Maricopa counties.

We've also launched a website where you can watch a quick video, read the project booklet and fill out a short comment form, all without heading out to a public meeting.

ADOT even offers a free “Do it Yourself” participation kit with informational materials and a DVD outlining the study. The kit can be ordered at the Intercity Rail website and will be mailed with a postage-paid return envelope for completed comment forms (comments must be received by Nov. 14). The kits are great for showing the video and encouraging comment form completion at your next HOA meeting, or book club event.

We encourage you to really explore the website, go to an open house, watch the video above and fill out the comment form! All your input will assist Arizona policymakers to prioritize the state’s transportation needs.

Here’s a list of the upcoming meetings: