In 2004, Maricopa County voters recognized the population growth and transportation challenges that will come to the region and approved Proposition 400. It was a balanced transportation plan that included freeway construction, road improvements, and additional buses and light rail service. The voters also saw a future need for commuter rail and provided money to study the viability of this transportation mode.
MAG initiated a Commuter Rail Strategic Planning effort for the MAG Region to define the requirements and steps needed for Maricopa and northern Pinal counties to plan for and implement commuter rail service. The one-year planning and stakeholder coordination process began in February 2007 with the formation of a Commuter Rail Stakeholders Group (CRSG). They provided comment on and help shape policy recommendations for implementing commuter rail in the study area. The CRSG consisted of public and private agencies and entities with interest in determining how to employ commuter rail services in the region.
From the Commuter Rail Strategic Plan in 2009 came a group of stakeholders from across the region that provided drive to further develop efforts to bring commuter rail to the region. Accordingly, MAG commissioned three additional planning studies: Systems Study, Grand Avenue Corridor Study and Yuma West Corridor Study. These studies were completed in the spring of 2010.
In 2016, MAG initiated the Regional Commuter Rail System Study Update. The goal of the study was to update the data in the MAG 2010 Commuter Rail System Study, specifically new regional socioeconomic forecasts, revised ridership, cost estimates, corridor rankings, and information from other relevant passenger rail studies and technical content. Governance and indemnity/liability issues related to passenger rail implementation were also studied as these elements must be addressed prior to any agreement between the owner railroads and the commuter rail governing/operating agency. The study was completed in 2018 and its results will inform planning for long-range high-capacity transit investments to support mobility throughout the region.
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Transportation Planner III Hannah Quinsey