All Aboard Arizona – Spring 2026 Newsletter 
Update from the President
Todd Liebman at the Bataan Memorial Death March, White Sands, New Mexico, March 2026
As spring enters full swing in Arizona, we have a lot of rail news to catch up on. Let’s start with your Association’s near-term priorities.
First, the Sun Corridor. The planned route will run through the central cities of Phoenix and Tucson — not just downtown termini — sparing west-side Phoenix residents and east and south-side Tucson residents from having to travel downtown to catch the train. The current hold-up is the Federal Railroad Administration releasing funding for Phase II public outreach.
Second, we continue to push for a daily Sunset Limited and a return to Phoenix. We are supporting legislation to end the non-federal match requirement for long-distance trains and keeping this issue before our congressional representatives.
Finally, we hope to push Amtrak to improve the Benson station with an ADA-accessible platform and add a new stop in Willcox, Arizona.
Several things are happening legislatively in Washington that deserve your attention. The Trump administration has submitted a proposed budget that decimates rail funding — targeting Amtrak with cuts of roughly 13.5%, reducing funding to approximately $2.1 billion from $2.43 billion in FY2026. When combined with expiring federal infrastructure funds, these cuts could result in a much steeper decline in federal support, threatening to reduce long-distance service and pause infrastructure modernization. At the same time, funding from the Infrastructure and Jobs Act is ending without replacement. The Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail is proposed for elimination.
Also on tap in Washington: Amtrak Reauthorization. Amtrak’s current authorization ends September 30th. We need to work with Congress on a robust reauthorization that provides a roadmap for the next five years while also fighting for a positive number on the annual appropriation. Please contact your congressional representatives to advocate for continued and expanded funding for passenger rail and Amtrak.
As many of you know, Mexico is making a tremendous investment in passenger rail. New passenger track is already under construction alongside existing freight corridors, designed for 120 mph operation. Later phases include extending service through Nogales — with discussions ongoing about extending that service to Tucson. It is only 63 miles from Nogales to Tucson, and the line is not congested. We are very enthusiastic about this at All Aboard Arizona.
I decided to try our very own overnight option between Tucson and Los Angeles: the Sunset Limited. Despite the inconvenience of tri-weekly service, a Thursday departure allows for a long weekend in Los Angeles. The westbound Sunset was right on time — I boarded for the 7:15 PM departure and had dinner in the dining car. We arrived in Los Angeles early, though loud intercom announcements at 4:00 AM for a 4:45 arrival left something to be desired.
LA Metro was excellent. No trouble getting anywhere on heavy rail, light rail, or bus. The fare cap is $5.00 — tap your phone or Apple Watch at every boarding, and the system ensures you’re never charged beyond the daily cap. My return on the Sunset was more civilized: a 10:00 PM departure and a 7:30 AM arrival in Tucson.
I’ll be heading to Washington for the Rail Passengers Association Spring Meeting, traveling via the Sunset Limited and the Crescent. I’ll also be presenting at the Rail Users Network symposium on April 24th — the conference is virtual and always interesting. Visit the RUN website for more information.
Our Passenger Rail Summit will be held in Tucson the first weekend in December. Watch our website for details. Please reach out to me or any board member if you have questions.
— Todd Liebman, President, All Aboard Arizona
Policy & Advocacy Updates
The Trump administration has proposed a budget that would cut Amtrak funding by roughly 13.5% — reducing it from $2.43 billion to approximately $2.1 billion. Combined with the end of Infrastructure and Jobs Act funding, the real impact could be far deeper than the headline number suggests. The Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail — the primary federal funding mechanism for corridor routes like the Sun Corridor — is proposed for elimination entirely.
Amtrak Reauthorization expires September 30. Without a strong reauthorization, every gain made over the past five years is at risk.
Contact your Senators and Representatives today. Ask them to fund Amtrak at authorized levels in FY2027, preserve the Federal-State Partnership, pass a strong reauthorization before September 30, and support S. 3728 — the Long-Distance Corridor Relief Act — which is directly critical to daily Sunset Limited service and its return to Phoenix.
Conference and Meeting Highlights
On April 24, All Aboard Arizona President Todd Liebman presented the Sun Corridor case to the Rail Users Network, a national virtual symposium bringing together passenger rail advocates from across the country.
The presentation laid out AAAz's three 2026 priorities: advancing the Sun Corridor through Phase II public outreach, restoring daily Sunset Limited service with a return to Phoenix, and improving stations at Benson and Willcox.
On the Sun Corridor, Todd was direct: CID Step 1 is complete and Arizona is ready. The FRA has simply not yet issued the Phase II Notice of Funding Opportunity. We are waiting on Washington — not the other way around.
The 90-day Daily Sunset Campaign is now underway. AAAz is collecting rider stories, building a priority station list, pursuing a formal Amtrak briefing, and coordinating a congressional outreach push. You can share your Sunset rider story at allaboardarizona.org.
The full RUN symposium recording, audio track, chat log, and presenter slides are available in the RUN 2026 shared folder.
Mark your calendars: the December Summit returns to Tucson the first weekend of December.
Link to RUN
Arizona Rail Updates
RTA Next Passes — A Mixed Result for Transit Advocates
Pima County voters approved Propositions 418 and 419 on March 10, giving the green light to the $2.67 billion RTA Next regional transportation plan and extending the half-cent sales tax for another 20 years. Prop 418 passed with about 61% of the vote; Prop 419 with about 59%.
All Aboard Arizona encouraged members to read the plan carefully and vote with a long-term multimodal future in mind. The plan allocates roughly $726 million to transit over the next two decades alongside $1.5 billion for roadways. We will be watching how the transit investments unfold. Read more
Mexico Rail Could Reach Tucson — And It's Not Hypothetical
Mexico is actively building a national passenger rail network spanning more than 3,000 kilometers, with the northern terminus planned for Nogales, Sonora — just 63 miles from Tucson on an uncongested line. At a January 19 Pima Association of Governments meeting, officials heard directly from the director general of Mexico's national railroad agency. Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz was blunt: "This is not some sort of pie in the sky. Like, they are doing this." KJZZ | KVOA
What Modern Regional Rail Looks Like — A Caltrain Trip Report
The High Speed Rail Alliance recently shared a trip report on Caltrain's electrified service: easy fare payment, frequent service, faster acceleration, and a more comfortable ride. As one of our board members asked: "Why can't we have this in the Sun Corridor?" It's a fair question — and one that motivates everything we're doing. Read more
Valley Metro's South Central Extension Earns National Recognition
Phoenix's South Central Extension — a 5.5-mile light rail expansion connecting downtown Phoenix to south Phoenix — recently received the 2026 ACEC Engineering Excellence National Grand Award among others. The project created Arizona's first two-line rail system and connected a historically underserved community to jobs, education, and opportunity. Read more
Calendar of Events
August 25-27, 2026 - Greater Northwest Rail Summit & BSPRA Annual Conference, Helena, Montana
The Greater Northwest Rail Summit convenes in Helena in conjunction with the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority's Annual Conference at the Montana Heritage Center. Arizona's rail future is directly connected to the Northwest corridor — the Sunset Limited links our state to this broader national network. Details at Greater Northwest Rail Summit & BSPRA Annual Conference
Fall 2026 - RailNation, Toledo, Ohio
The Rail Passengers Association's national annual conference heads to Toledo. Register here.
December 2026 - AAAz Annual Passenger Rail Summit, Tucson
First weekend in December. Details to follow.
Monthly Board Meetings
AAAz board meetings are held monthly via Zoom. Contact a board member for the link.
Join us
Arizona's passenger rail moment is here. The Sun Corridor is in planning. Mexico rail is approaching the border. Valley Metro is expanding. And Washington is where the fight is.
All Aboard Arizona's advocacy work with local officials, state agencies, and Congress depends on an engaged membership. Your membership strengthens our voice and keeps Arizona at the table in national rail conversations.
Not yet a member? Join today at AllaboardArizona.org. Already a member? Share this newsletter with someone who cares about Arizona's transportation future.
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