Trains carrying thousands of passengers could someday share the same tracks where freight trains often stop Tempe traffic.
The Maricopa Association of Governments will soon look into implementing a statewide commuter rail system, said Roger Herzog, senior project manager for transportation.
Commuter rail uses existing railroads to transport passengers across long distances, typically from outlying cities to metropolitan job centers, Herzog said.
"It's a relatively high-speed, comfortable mode of travel," Herzog said.
Maximum speeds along two possible rail routes currently range from 15 to 60 mph, according to a 2003 MAG study.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe line extends from Phoenix to Williams in northern Arizona.
The Union Pacific track, which runs through Tempe, runs from the Valley into Picacho in southern Arizona.
Other cities with successful commuter rail systems include Chicago and Dallas, according to the study. The 90-mile Chicago route has 12,800 passengers a day and the Dallas system has 5,900 daily riders.
Tempe could benefit from two possible commuter rail stations, said Carlos de Leon, the city's deputy public works manager.
"All roads lead to Tempe or through Tempe to get to other parts of the Valley," de Leon said.
Commuter rail could help reduce traffic congestion by taking cars off the road, he added.
The system would likely run mainly during morning and evening rush hours and arrive every 20 to 30 minutes, said John Ferry, director of community and government relations at Valley Metro Rail.
Valley Metro would help operate any regional rail system, Ferry said.
But there's currently no funding for commuter rail, said Eric Anderson, MAG transportation director.
Building the system could cost $1 to $1.5 billion, not including operational costs, Anderson said.
A half-cent county sales tax passed in 2004 to fund regional transportation projects over 20 years didn't include money to develop a commuter rail system, Anderson added.
"Even if we had a source of funding dedicated today, it's still five to 10 years off," Anderson said.
Another problem is rescheduling current freight service so it doesn't conflict with the new passenger service, de Leon said.
If the two services aren't well-timed, it could cause major backups when trains stop traffic along Rural Road and University Drive, de Leon added.
The region would have to negotiate with railroads for using the tracks, he said.
A new commuter rail study would focus on possible funding sources, ridership and cost estimates, effects on freight services and necessary railroad upgrades, Herzog said.
The study will likely begin after July 1 and end a year later, he added.
Tempe Councilman Len Copple said regional cooperation was necessary to make commuter rail a reality.
"We all have to get our heads together and kind of figure out how to make it happen," Copple said.
Reach the reporter at grayson.steinberg@asu.edu.
