rail and sprawl

[walkitout]

There's a much longer background discussion about (a) whether a rail link between Tucson and Phoenix might be a good idea and (b) independent of (a), why ADOT hasn't at least asked Amtrak to do an assessment.

In any event, here's a great discussion of rail and sprawl:

http://stephenrees.wordpress.com/2008/02/03/does-commuter-rail-cause-or-promote-sprawl/

I would only add: rail development _did_ cause sprawl, but switching from rail to asphalt made it worse and switching back to rail will make it better. Verb tense matters.

ETA: Oh, and irritatingly enough, once again someone has discussed transportation and zoning and sprawl while not talking about the industrial zone and freight. At all.

Comments

a bit more about arizona

[walkitout]

http://www.azdot.gov/ADOT_and/Vision21/minutes/min091900d.asp

No comments from the public, a constitutional clause saying the state can't subsidize rail (!) and a huge focus on time and the status quot. Wow. I know there's action on this corridor, because a Blue Dog democrat from Arizona (woman whose name escapes me) (ETA: http://giffords.house.gov/legis/safetea-lu-reauthorization.shtml) has been trying to get SAFTEA (probably spelled that wrong, but it's the ex-highway bill now surface transportation bill) funding for phase 2 of an EIS on passenger rail between Tucson and Phoenix.

ETA: I'm getting the impression that Tucson wants this more than Phoenix. More specifically, Pima Area Governments.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/40646.php

ETYA: Hey, a regional rail association with a diagram of their proposed network including regional rail (Amtrak under contract to the state government, one would assume), light rail in the two biggest cities and some coach connectors.

http://www.azrail.org/trains/regional/

If nothing else, you'd think the tourism/commercial traveler arguments would favor some rail connections.