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TUCSON- The Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) Board of Directors today approved a resolution urging inclusion of a Tucson International Airport (TIA) rail station within the first phase of a passenger rail effort planned to run between Phoenix and Tucson.

ADOT's Passenger Rail Corridor Study has identified six route options for a high-capacity rail system connecting Tucson and Phoenix and is seeking public comments on the public's preferences. Each route is designed to designate TIA as a future station site, but no plans are being worked on. A rail connection to TIA would also provide much-needed surface transit options for the community's largest employment base surrounding TIA.

TAA's resolution supports ADOT's efforts, but states that leaving TIA out of the initial phase will have "numerous unintended and adverse impacts on the economy and quality of life in southern Arizona, creating an enormous competitive disadvantage for TIA, severely reducing cargo and commercial air service in the region, and resulting in diminished growth and development opportunities," airport officials stated in a news release.

TIA contributes an estimated $3.2 billion annually to the regional economy, officials stated in the release. This rail can benefit the airport with, "continued growth of the airport, expansion of air service options, and the development of additional aviation and other industrial employment centers in southern Arizona."

For more information on this project, visit http://www.azdot.gov/passengerrail/