Commuter-rail system envisioned for Valley

Enough people would board a train in the Valley's suburbs that a future commuter-rail system would be as popular as some of the busiest lines in the West, new studies have found. A trio of yearlong rail studies, in nearly final form, indicates commuter rail could carry almost 18,000 passengers a day by 2030. Planners at the say, based on the findings, they favor a 105-mile, X-shaped system that could feature 33 stations and cost roughly $1.5 billion. That's a little more than the Valley's 20-mile, light-rail starter line. The commuter-rail network would use existing freight track through , with lines from Queen Creek to Buckeye and from Chandler to Wittmann. The northeast Valley, whose light-rail line lacks funding, would remain without commuter rail. The studies are expected to be final in two months. MAG's board must then approve them and include them in the official plan before the agency can seek state or federal funding. The soonest a commuter rail could realistically open would be the second half of next decade. Planners say it takes three to five years to complete a system once the money has been found. There is no current funding.

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