SWRC Coalition Core Project Team Meeting
August 30, 2005
Minutes
Present: Smyth, Schwartz (late), Bohannan, Pearsall, Gary and Milroy
Absent: Tevlin and Herr-Cardillo
Calendar: Sept 13, 2005 – SWRC Coalition (Full Team) Meeting at Goodman-Schwartz
October TBD, 2005 (April to set up) – SWRC Coalition Core Team meeting at Goodman-Schwartz
Action Items: 1)Schwartz working with Valley Metro Rail to join the coalition.
2) Herr-Cardillo, Farley and Caywood continue to develop/identify a “champion” in the Tucson area.
3) Smyth and Jeff Cooley to meet with Gilbert officials in September.
4) Smyth to contact Jake Jacobson relative to passenger rail on the Copper Basin Railway.
5) Schwartz to follow up on Kimley-Horn meeting.
6) Schwarz to contact other consultants/engineering firms about interest in the coalition
7) Smyth (with John Anderson, AzTA) will lead the development of the “Commuter/Intercity Passenger Rail in Arizona” symposium.
Bohannan to contact Tom Fisher of PAG and ask them to join the Coalition. 9) Bohannan and Schwartz to provide Verschoor information he requested.
10) Bohannan (with info from Pearsall) to start a dialog with the City of Surprise.
11) Pearsall to develop cost talking points.
12) Pearsall (with Bill Lindley) to develop a Coalition letterhead template.
The following items were discussed during the meeting. Action items are listed above.
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Smyth reviewed the status of action items from the June 30, 2005 Core Team meeting.
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Two new members have joined the Coalition; 1) Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization (Mack Luckie), and 2) Central Arizona Association of Governments (Bill Leister).
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The Coalition is planning a symposium on commuter/intercity passenger rail in Arizona to be presented in conjunction with the April 2006 Arizona Transit Association Annual Meeting. AzTA and the Coalition have applied for an American Public Transportation Association grant for funds to subsidize travel cost for out-of-state (e.g. CA, NM, Colorado, etc.) speakers.
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Pearsall reported that ADOT has joined the “States for Passenger Rail Coalition” (http://www.s4prc.org). This coalition will assist Arizona in getting federal designation of Phoenix to Tucson as a High-Speed Corridor. This is a very positive step forward for ADOT and its support of passenger rail.
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Garey reported that Amtrak is here to stay. Congress will provide increased funding in future years. Senator Lott is leading the effort to increase support of Amtrak. Senator McCain and Representative Hayworth are coming around to national passenger rail.
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Bohannan and Schwartz met with Senator Thayer Verschoor, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. He was very interested in commuter/intercity passenger rail. He indicated that Rep. Biggs, Chair of the House Transportation Committee, also supports commuter/intercity passenger rail. Bohannan and Schwartz are providing info to Verschoor including information on the New Mexico commuter rail project. Verschoor is going to get a meeting together of several stakeholders and the Coalition will be invited to attend.
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Team discussed inviting MAG and PAG to join the Coalition. It was decided to contact PAG (Pima County Association of Governments) now and contact MAG (Maricopa County Association of Governments) later. Bohannan to contact PAG.
- Pearsall and Bohannan reported that the City of Surprise unanimously approved a resolution directing the City staff to begin working with State and County agencies, and other cities to encourage and support development of a statewide rail system. Bohannan has been in contact with Surprise Councilman Elkins. Bohannan with assistance from Pearsall will develop a dialog with the City of Surprise and if appropriate ask them to join the SWRC Coalition.
- It was agreed that we need talking points relative to cost related to passenger rail (e.g. cost of rail, operating costs, fare cost vs. shuttle cost Tucson to Sky Harbor, or cost of state government travel Phoenix to Tucson. Pearsall will generate the talking points for use by the Coalition Members.
Jay R. Smyth, PhD, PRP, PMP
Coordinator, SWRC Coalition