From: "Webmaster Friends Of Transit" To: "Friends of Transit NEWS" Subject: Light Rail Project Stays On Time and On Budget Date: Friday, June 08, 2001 3:38 PM Attached below is a memo from Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza and Phoenix Councilwoman Peggy Bilsten (Chair of Transpiration Subcommittee) to Diane Scherer (Chair of Phoenix Citizens Transit Commission) about making sure the Light Rail project stays "on time and on budget." You will note that steady progress continues to be made to bring the residents of the Greater Phoenix community a well-managed and accessible transit system that is fiscally sound and in line with the wishes of the voters in both Phoenix and Tempe. We will continue to keep you informed about progress on the transit plan - both some of the big steps (like the recent approvals of both cities' light rail stations) and some of the smaller steps along the way. You can learn more about transit by visiting our website friendsoftransit.org and view the many different transit-related links. David Schwartz Executive Director Friends of Transit david@friendsoftransit.org http://www.friendsoftransit.org To: Diane Scherer, Chair Citizens Transit Commission Date: June 7, 2001 From: Mayor Skip Rimsza Councilwoman Bilsten, Chair Transportation and Technology Subcommittee Subject: TRANSIT SYSTEM COSTS-OUR CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS Last Friday, we submitted our mid-year New Starts report to the Federal Transit Administration. This is the report that must be submitted to receive a "Recommended" rating from the FTA. It represents the first step toward obtaining a 50% federal match that is so critical to implement the transit program approved by our voters. The New Starts report included an initial engineering cost estimate of $1.06 billion for the first 20.3 miles or about $52 million a mile. It's important to clarify that this estimate represents the cost of many system options that will need to be carefully evaluated and scaled back in order to bring the project within budget. By "within budget", we are referring to the cost of $43 million per mile which is a commitment that we have to our voters. Within the estimates that were submitted in the report, there are many opportunities for cost cutting such as in the areas of track design as well as number of stations in the first stage. A simple (and accurate) adjustment such as phasing in the costs of the maintenance facility over the full 60 miles rather than the initial 20.3 miles reduces the cost per mile from $52 million to $49 million. We were pleased to hear about the discussion that took place at your Commission meeting just yesterday where you and several members expressed the desire and commitment to keep the project on time and on budget. I know that you have shared this goal with us from the start of this project. We look forward to working with you and the Commission as we continue to move this project forward - on time and on budget.