21st Century Transportation for Arizona

ARIZONANS NEED TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

Our highways are plagued with congestion, regardless of how many we build or how quickly we expand them. Pollution is a growing problem, with more of our children being affected by asthma. And a strong economy relies on having strong infrastructure.

It’s clear that Arizona needs to update and expand our transportation system to meet our needs in the 21st century.

Passenger rail between Phoenix and Tucson, light rail, efficient bus systems, vanpool services and other public transit options should play a greater role in Arizona’s transportation future.

Working To Make Passenger Rail A Reality

No matter how many times we widen the I-10, it’s nearly impossible to drive between Phoenix and Tucson without getting stuck in traffic. The Arizona Department of Transportation estimates that by 2050 it will take more than 5 hours to drive between Phoenix and Tucson — after factoring in expansion of the I-10.

ADOT is moving forward to determine the best route and funding options for a Phoenix-Tucson passenger rail line. While important progress is being made, there are still a number of steps needed, including public input meetings, to bring passenger rail to Arizona. With your support, we can ensure Arizona’s leaders know that Arizonans want better transportation options.

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Blog Post | Transportation

US House Transportation Bill for the 19th Century, not the 21st Century | Serena Unrein

With much fanfare and 854 days late, the U.S. House last week introduced bills to fund our nation's transportation system for the next five years. The new rules for spending $260 billion over five years would be tilted more toward highways with less going to buses, rail, biking and pedestrian trails.

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News Release | Arizona PIRG | Transportation

U.S. House Proposal Threatens to Defund Public Transportation

Statement of Serena Unrein, Public Interest Advocate for Arizona PIRG), on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee surface transportation bill to fund all federal investment in transportation over the next five years (H.R. 3864):

News Release | Arizona PIRG | Transportation

Advocates Say New Transportation Bill is a Step Backwards

Statement of Serena Unrein, Public Interest Advocate for Arizona PIRG, on the transportation reauthorization bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Media Hit | Transportation

Arizona rail: A longer trip to a much shorter commute

Trying to make the drive from Tucson to Phoenix is rough. Going in a passenger vehicle on the freeway with thousands of other cars takes forever and makes the trip much less enjoyable. With the price of gas, and the massive number of vehicles spewing emissions into the air, the drive takes a toll both environmentally and financially.

Media Hit | Transportation

Editorial: Tucson trip

Those who have been to the Northeast, anywhere in Europe or Japan can vouch for the convenience and ease that passenger rails give to travelers. The Metro Light Rail, which travels from Mesa through Tempe and downtown Phoenix, is the only rail example in Arizona. But a real possibility exists that we will get more trains for rail travel and it’s exciting.

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News Release | Arizona PIRG | Transportation

U.S. House Proposal Threatens to Defund Public Transportation

Statement of Serena Unrein, Public Interest Advocate for Arizona PIRG), on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee surface transportation bill to fund all federal investment in transportation over the next five years (H.R. 3864):

News Release | Arizona PIRG | Transportation

Advocates Say New Transportation Bill is a Step Backwards

Statement of Serena Unrein, Public Interest Advocate for Arizona PIRG, on the transportation reauthorization bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Media Hit | Transportation

Arizona rail: A longer trip to a much shorter commute

Trying to make the drive from Tucson to Phoenix is rough. Going in a passenger vehicle on the freeway with thousands of other cars takes forever and makes the trip much less enjoyable. With the price of gas, and the massive number of vehicles spewing emissions into the air, the drive takes a toll both environmentally and financially.

Media Hit | Transportation

Editorial: Tucson trip

Those who have been to the Northeast, anywhere in Europe or Japan can vouch for the convenience and ease that passenger rails give to travelers. The Metro Light Rail, which travels from Mesa through Tempe and downtown Phoenix, is the only rail example in Arizona. But a real possibility exists that we will get more trains for rail travel and it’s exciting.

Media Hit | Transportation

Environmental impact study begins on possible Phoenix-Tucson rail

State and federal agencies have started taking public comments on a Tucson-to-Phoenix rail line, the first step in a yearlong environmental impact study on the proposal.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

High-Speed Rail: Public, Private or Both?

Private sector companies are likely to play a major role in the construction of high-speed rail lines in the United States. Public-private partnerships – or “PPPs” – have come to play an important role in the construction of high-speed rail lines around the world. The experience with high-speed rail PPPs, however, has been mixed.

Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

Do Roads Pay for Themselves?

Highway advocates often claim that roads “pay for themselves,” with gasoline taxes and other charges to motorists covering—or nearly covering—the full cost of highway construction and maintenance. They are wrong.

Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

A Track Record of Success

As America moves toward construction of new high-speed rail networks in regions throughout the country, we have much to learn from experiences abroad. High-speed rail lines have operated for more than 45 years in Japan and for three decades in Europe, providing a wealth of information about what the United States can expect from high-speed rail and how we can receive the greatest possible benefits from our investment.

Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

How & Why to Fund Light Rail in the Phoenix Metro Area

This Arizona PIRG Education Fund report outlines funding options that transportation officials can explore to expand the light rail system in the Phoenix metro area and why expanding the light rail is important.

Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

Road Work Ahead

Over the last 50 years, America has built roads and bridges at a pace and scale that dwarfs most of the rest of the world. Now, much of that system is showing its age – and as maintenance needs continue to grow, we are falling farther behind.

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Blog Post | Transportation

US House Transportation Bill for the 19th Century, not the 21st Century | Serena Unrein

With much fanfare and 854 days late, the U.S. House last week introduced bills to fund our nation's transportation system for the next five years. The new rules for spending $260 billion over five years would be tilted more toward highways with less going to buses, rail, biking and pedestrian trails.

Add new comment

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