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Opinion by William S. Gaither

Think of this, Tucsonans. Drive, walk or bicycle a few miles or less from home and park your car or put your bike in a secure locker. A few hundred feet away, insert your electronic fare card at a turnstile and board a sleek, new light-rail train that whisks you to your destination in Tucson, or to the high-speed rail terminal next to Interstate-10 on the near-Northwest Side.

Transfer to the Tucson-Phoenix high-speed (185 miles per hour) train and settle in for the smooth, quiet, 45-minute ride to Sky Harbor International Airport and connect to Phoenix's 24-mile light-rail system that will open in December.

Walk into the airport or get off at any of the 28 stations along the way between Mesa and downtown Phoenix. At any station, check out a well-maintained bicycle at the automated stand, take a taxi or board a bus to your destination.

Go to work, shop, visit museums or take in a Diamondbacks game. All you'll need to get around will be your electronic fare card (for a taxi, bring cash).

Sound fantastic? Not at all. Every part of this futuristic public-transportation system exists right now, just not in Tucson or Phoenix.

The centerpiece of this system will be the 95-mile- long high-speed rail line that employs state-of-the-art technology used in France and Japan. This non-polluting, electric line will run on a new, dedicated right of way, with no dangerous grade crossings. It will feature stations in Marana, Eloy, Casa Grande and Maricopa.

Since passengers board with electronic fare cards, there will be no on-board ticket takers and, upon exiting the system, the exact fare for distance and time of day traveled will be deducted from the fare-card balance.

In her recent State of the State message, Gov. Janet Napolitano called for a Tucson-to-Phoenix rail line. She envisions the state's population doubling in the next few decades and acknowledged that "we are already lagging" and "we cannot out-freeway the problem."

The governor referred to Arizona Department of Transportation studies now nearing completion for the Legislature to act on in 2008 or 2009. These studies may recommend a "starter system" that will put polluting, diesel-powered inter-urban rail cars on the already-busy, double-track freight lines between Tucson and Phoenix.

That will be a mistake.

Such a meager and unexciting investment will move Arizona even further behind in weaning us from polluting private vehicles and enjoying the benefits of a modern public transportation system.

How can Arizona pay for a state-of-the-art local and inter-city rail system, particularly in this slumping economy? First, think long term. Second, seek federal assistance. Third, acquire the right of way. Fourth, legislate dedicated taxes. Fifth, seek investor capital in the United States and abroad. Sixth, convert Interstate 10 into a toll road between Tucson and Phoenix, using the revenues to, first, pay for the conversion and, later, to subsidize this new passenger-rail system.

This is a major project. It will require two decades or more to complete. Start it right — right now.