By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Ever since former Gov. Doug Ducey inexplicably vetoed popular bipartisan legislation last July that would have sent the Proposition 400 half-cent transportation sales tax to voters for renewal, AZBEX and BEX Companies have continued to follow the issue with extensive coverage in the magazine and at our industry events.
One factor we touched on in an October issue and at our Public Works Conference was the ripple effect the veto caused for a number of projects that had already been in planning and development. Most notably, we reported how the veto sidelined the final design progress for the $2B+, 29-mile SR 30 Tres Rios project running from I-17 to Buckeye. In that article, we reported, “Because of the uncertainty introduced by Ducey’s veto and the possible future of Prop 400 funding, the design services RFQ was canceled in August. As of September 14th, ADOT representatives said there are currently no plans to re-advertise the request.” (AZBEX; Oct. 11, 2020; Oct. 21, 2022)
That impact was not a one-off for a single project. Other jurisdictions and agencies have also begun to feel the pinch generated by Ducey’s veto and the subsequent gamesmanship now taking place in the Arizona Legislature, which has seen several so-called “renewal” efforts that would actually have gutted most of Prop 400’s goals and effectiveness as an engine for transportation projects and economic development. (AZBEX; Feb. 7)
Maricopa County, Chandler Seeing Impacts
The Chandler Arizonan reports the delays and uncertainty regarding the tax renewal, known as Prop 400E, are already causing problems for Maricopa County and the City of Chandler.
The article quotes Chandler Senior Transportation Planner Jason Crampton as saying many of the components of the regional transportation plan assembled by the Maricopa Association of Governments are not being built because they take years to plan and execute and no one knows if there will be funding.
Crampton’s statements were taken from a presentation by several officials to the Chandler Chamber of Commerce earlier this month. He said arterial street projects will be the ones most affected in Chandler if Prop 400 isn’t renewed.
Road widening projects currently causing concerns or put in jeopardy by the renewal’s current state of limbo include:
- Loop 101 between U.S. 60 and Loop 22 Red Mountain freeway;
- Loop 202 San Tan from I-10 to Price Road;
- Elliot Road from the Price Freeway to Alma School Road;
- Warner Road from the freeway to McQueen Road;
- Germann Road between Arizona and Cooper Road;
- Alma School from Chandler Boulevard to Pecos Road;
- Alma School between Germann and Queen Creek Road, and
- Kyrene Road from Chandler Boulevard to the Loop 202.
Crampton, MAG Transportation Planning Manager Audra Koester Thomas, Maricopa County Supervisor Jack Sellers and others at the Chamber event praised the economic development facilitated by past Prop 400-related projects, including Intel’s choosing Chandler as its Valley home. Sellers told the group it was unlikely Intel would have ended up in Chandler had it not been for Prop 400.
Efforts to pass a functional renewal measure out of the legislature and onto Gov. Katie Hobbs’ desk for approval are ongoing.