Mayors in Arizona are voicing concerns over the state's growth and are calling for rapid development of commuter rail in the Tempe region to help handle the rising population's strain on transportation infrastructure.
"Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman is at the head of a line of leaders pushing for commuter rail service."
"'There is a groundswell of interest in commuter rail," Hallman said. Last fall, Hallman asked his staff to begin looking at transportation options, including commuter rail. The idea was to ease bottlenecks along the 'Broadway Curve' on Interstate 10 and other traffic jams along U.S. 60 and Tempe arterial streets."
"Hallman and other city mayors also are pushing for construction of the proposed South Mountain Freeway through Ahwatukee that would allow motorists and trucks to bypass I-10 and complete Loop 202 around the Valley."
"But even with the South Mountain Freeway, transportation planners say the state can't keep up with rapid growth coming from the city of Maricopa and other parts of Pinal County."
"'The most logical thing to look at immediately are commuter rail options,' Hallman said."
FULL STORY: Tempe pushes for rail commuter lines
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