Queen Creek, Ariz., considers possibility of rail link with Valley

Imagine boarding a train in Queen Creek and arriving 35 minutes later at a restaurant on Tempe's Mill Avenue, then hopping back on board for a 10-minute jaunt to Chase Stadium in downtown Phoenix, The Arizona Republic asks.

That could be possible
someday, say transit planners with the Maricopa Association of Governments. In
fact, demand already exists for commuter rail service between Queen Creek and
Phoenix, said Marc Pearsall, a MAG transit planner who spoke to the Town
Council Wednesday night. Pearsall presented findings from three Valley commuter
rail studies that the organization started developing in 2008.

So, what’s the hold up?
Money. Pearsall said identifying a funding source is the main obstacle,
especially in the current economy.

After that, the normally
hesitant railroad companies Union Pacific and BNSF, which own the land that a
commuter rail system would require, are likely to strike a deal, he said.

"The moment you
identify local funding for commuter rail, the industry average is somewhere
between three to five years (to start operation)," he told the council.
"It’s relatively quick."

Pearsall said the findings,
which were accepted by MAG’s Regional Council in late May, could be a tool for
implementing a rail system. If and when that occurs, the 34-mile Queen Creek-

Phoenix corridor should
be the first line constructed in the 110-mile network branching across the
Valley.

"The reason is
because it’s the most cost effective with the highest ridership potential – possibly
6,500 riders a day," he said.

The findings call for
stations along the Queen Creek-Phoenix route in downtown Tempe, downtown Mesa,
Gilbert, and at Arizona State University and Phoenix-Gateway Airport among other
places.

Wendy Kaserman, a senior management
assistant who submitted the staff report to the council Wednesday, wrote in an
e-mail that commuter rail system is probably many years away."

She added the town hasn’t
analyzed the economic benefits.

"In general however,
a rail stop would generate significant commercial and retail opportunities within
the town because a new customer base would be created by passengers using the
rail system," she said.

The system map endorsed
by the study and accepted by MAG’s Regional Council consists of multiple lines
radiating from Phoenix – a 31-mile line to Buckeye, an 18-mile line to west
Chandler, a 36-mile line to Wittmann and the 34-mile line to Queen Creek.

"Combined, we’re
looking at nearly 18,000 riders per day on a relatively mature system,"
Pearsall said.

He said BNSF, which owns
the track running along Grand Avenue, is open to allowing commuter rail on its
property as long as it is well compensated and its customers are not adversely
affected, Pearsall said.

Union Pacific, which owns
the other tracks including the land in the Queen Creek-Phoenix corridor, is
more resistant. That’s potentially bad news for any Queen Creek resident
dreaming about speeding to the office in downtown Phoenix while sipping a coffee
and reading a book.

Still, Pearsall said MAG
officials believe the company will come around as the region moves forward with
plans.

Kaserman said while Queen
Creek is still a relatively small town, there’s a lot of traffic passing
through every day. She pointed to town data used by MAG that projected up to
177,000 trips per day between Pinal County and Maricopa County by 2026.

"Commuter rail is a
viable practical option for Queen Creek considering future traffic projections,"
she said.