Below is a summary of some of our press. A prior press archive is on our blog here.
Read the rest of the article here:
- Excerpt from first feature in the Arizona Republic, January 8, 2009
 From here to there, faster
"...A visionary plan for the Tucson-Phoenix Corridor growth would have as
its centerpiece a high-speed, heavy-rail connection of the French TGV
or Japanese bullet-train variety. This transportation spine would
employ proven, state-of-the-art equipment, be electrified, have two
tracks - one for each direction - and be built on a new right of way.
The 95-mile trip between cities would take 45 minutes at speeds up to
185 miles per hour. Stations would be in Phoenix, Maricopa, Casa
Grande, Eloy, Marana, and Tucson. Trains would depart each city every
30 minutes.This electrified high-speed system and its supporting light-rail feeder
connections would have the potential to dramatically reduce emissions
of greenhouse gases, refocus attention from building highways to the
use of energy-efficient public transportation, and stimulate commerce
both between, and within, Phoenix and Tucson..." More here at AZCentral.com.
- Our first feature story in Tucson, Arizona Daily Star, May 8, 2009
High-speed solar train proposed as Tucson-Phoenix connectionProject, in idea stage, could cost $27B for 1st phase
 By Mariana Alvarado
"... The idea is to
start a train system that connects Tucson and Phoenix in a first phase.
In the future it would extend north to Grand Canyon and south to
Nogales. The cost for the first phase alone is estimated at $27
billion. It could start operating in 2018... The innermost two tracks
would be reserved for nonstop travel from Tucson to Phoenix, going 116
miles in a half hour, said [project founder] William Gaither. The other
tracks would serve six intermediate stations in Chandler, Maricopa,
Casa Grande, Eloy, Red Rock and Marana, extending the Phoenix-Tucson
travel time to approximately 60 minutes... The rail could open up new
opportunities for economic development in those cities, said Gaither.
The train would require 110 megawatts of electricity and would operate
with solar power generated from overhead panels. It would have a
dedicated right-of-way..." More here at azstarnet.com.
Below a representative sampling from the 800 other mentions of this story..
- Press release, November 2009, following the unexpected demise of William Gaither Ph.D., the founder of SolarBullet LLC. in September 2009. The new members below had all been advisors to Bill on this project.
AZ Solar Bullet Campaign Gathers Speed With New Members
Three
new board members have joined Solar Bullet LLC of Tucson, organizers of
the campaign to bring a very high speed solar-powered rail line to
Arizona. The new chairperson for the campaign is Tucson resident Ted L. Hullar,
former chancellor of UC Davis and former director of the Center for the
Environment at Cornell University. Hullar assumed the role upon the
recent death of the project's founder, William S. Gaither, Ph.D.
Joining him on the board are Ivar Sanders and Carla Nelson.
Sanders, a longtime engineering consultant from Silicon Valley, will be
a technical advisor, while Nelson, a veteran campaign organizer, will
serve as communications director. The board is also aided by staffer,
Jan Bush, an environmental planning consultant in Tempe. The group is
currently working with cities along the route between Tucson and
Phoenix to garner support and funding for an economic impact study by
the Eller School of Management at the University of Arizona. Details
available at www.solarbullet.org. |
