WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today Rep. Greg Stanton announced the Arizona Department of Transportation would receive a $500,000 Federal Railroad Administration Corridor Identification and Development grant—the first step in reestablishing Amtrak service between Phoenix and Tucson.
The grant funding, which comes under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will be used to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for the service. ADOT has provided an additional $3.5 million in state funds for the planning effort.
In June, Stanton spoke in support of the ADOT’s grant application at a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, saying, “returning passenger service to Phoenix would provide “opportunity to connect our communities, make them more accessible and productive, and more internationally competitive. Opportunity to boost our regional economies with better access to jobs and more private investment along the route. Opportunity to ease congestion along Interstate 10 and help reduce air pollution.”
During the hearing, Amtrak’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gardner noted the “very strong local, bipartisan support for bringing service back” to Phoenix, and said it is “frankly an embarrassment that we don’t serve such a major, prominent city.”