(The Associated Press circulated the following on September 30.)
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The federal government is giving $1 million to Arizona to launch a study of proposed new passenger rail service between Phoenix and Tucson.
Arizona has to come up with $1 million to match the grant made by the Federal Railroad Administration.
The money would pay for starting an environmental impact statement on so-called “Sun Corridor” service that would generally follow the Union Pacific’s existing tracks.
According to a description of the project, it could include upgrading existing track and building new track either in current or along new corridors.
Implementation costs are estimated at $600 million plus $34 million annually for operations.