The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is actively taking steps to expand rail infrastructure, particularly with a focus on establishing a passenger rail service connecting Tucson to Phoenix. In collaboration with local transportation groups, ADOT is embarking on the initial phases of a federal rail expansion program. This entails calculating the price for a new rail line and devising a development plan for the service.

The advancements are not completely novel, as studies and public consultations on this concept have been previously completed. A spokesperson for the ADOT, Steve Elliott, stated, "Our corridor that we're studying for proposed passenger rail follows an existing corridor, but there needs to be more study on exactly what the infrastructure would need to be in there," according to a statement obtained by AZPM News. The proposed line would extend from Tucson International Airport to Buckeye, passing in close proximity to the Phoenix area's two passenger airports.

In this new phase, officials are looking to unite representatives from Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties to determine crucial components of the rail service, including potential station locations, schedule of trains, and projections for ridership and income. The project's maturation is also aimed at identifying funding sources and establishing a construction timetable as part of the Corridor Identification and Development Program.

Explaining the federal program's objectives, Elliott added, "That is geared toward specifically identifying potential routes for passenger rail. And what we're doing right now is completing the steps that are required of participants," as he told AZPM News. The process is hoped to also aid in pinpointing financial resources for constructing the rail line and planning the schedule for its completion.