The Arizona State Rail Plan (SRP) is the first comprehensive assessment of the stateís rail needs and was initiated in response to the increasing involvement by ADOT in freight and passenger rail issues. The SRP serves to identify the current rail system, to determine infrastructure needs, and to have rail projects included in the state's long-range planning processes to improve regional and statewide safety mobility. The principle purpose is to convey the magnitude of the rail needs in the state and set forth a policy framework through which strategic actions can be taken to realize the full potential of passenger and freight rail transportation.

Given the context for BRT planning in the Valley, this project, the Comprehensive Arterial Bus Rapid Transit Planning Study, is tasked with identifying demand for BRT and defining operational characteristics, capital infrastructure needs, and fleet requirements. The study considers how operational characteristics and needs of the BRT corridors may change as the regional transit network develops over the life of the 20 year transit program.