The prospect of Amtrak service making a grand return to Phoenix, connecting the city with Tucson and potentially Los Angeles, got a boost with a federal funding injection. The Biden Administration earmarked $500,000 for Arizona to study a new rail line, as reported by 12 News. Phoenix residents have been without an Amtrak station since 1996, with the nearest stop currently in Maricopa, some 40 miles from downtown.
Representative Greg Stanton lauded the move saying, "It's about time! We need to get this done." Demonstrating his personal affinity for rail travel, he added in an interview with AZFamily, "When I need to travel to New York for example, it is a really wonderful way to travel. Very efficient." The newly allocated funds, combined with $3.5 million of state funding already in place, are aimed to advance research needed to push the project forward.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego is pushing for a future Amtrak presence downtown and near Sky Harbor Airport. "We know that people come from Southern Arizona to fly out of Sky Harbor Airport," Gallego told AZFamily. "Many of those people would prefer not to pay to park a car, so rail would be a wonderful amenity for them." The move is supported by various political and business leaders who anticipate benefits like reduced freeway congestion and a boost in state tourism.
Moreover, environmental advantages are also seen as a win, with Stanton remarking, "Of course, it is good for our environment. Of course, it will have a positive impact on the issues of climate change, which are really important in Arizona." Despite the excitement, the project's price tag is still undetermined, though Tom Zoellner, author of "Train: Riding The Rails That Created The Modern World," speculated to 12 News that it may require billions of dollars, adding that infrastructure upgrades like bridge and track enhancements would be necessary.
While there’s no definitive timeline for when a new rail line may be operational or even started, and no specific funds have been allocated for construction, the recent financial commitments are seen as key steps toward bringing Amtrak back to the Valley. The planned route would extend from Tucson, with stops throughout the greater Phoenix area, and continue westward, enabling travel to Los Angeles by train.
