The proposed corridor would reconnect phoenix (BUCKEYE) to tucson, AZ, with multiple daily frequencies

The Department of Transportation Arizona, through the Intermodal Transportation Division, was awarded a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail program (CFDA 20.326). The funding will support the development of a Service Development Plan for a proposed passenger rail corridor connecting Phoenix (Buckeye) to Tucson, Arizona. Key activities include developing a project performance plan, existing planning materials, scope of work, project schedule, and approved budget. This project aims to reinstate passenger rail service on an existing alignment over which Amtrak discontinued service in 1997, and will serve Tucson, Phoenix, and communities in between. The award has a performance period of March 15, 2024 through October 31, 2025.

The proposed corridor would reinstate service on an existing alignment over which amtrak discontinued service in 1997, rerouting the long-distance sunset limited to a more southerly alignment through maricopa, AZ (the corridor would use the same route as the existing sunset limited texas eagle between picacho and tucson, AZ). Using service development plan (SDP) SOW framework, the corridor sponsor will develop a project performance plan (task 1.1), existing planning and development materials (task 2.1), statement of work (task 2.2), approved project schedule (task 2.3), approved project budget (task 2.4). This project will serve tucson and phoenix as well as communities in between.