Arizona Sen. T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge) is drafting legislation that would have the State of Arizona pay $360M to widen a 26-mile section of I-10 between Casa Grande and metro Phoenix.
A federal grant request in that amount was recently rejected. Speculation as to why includes the fact that the grant program placed a heavy emphasis on intermodal projects, although other interstate projects were approved, and the possibility that the Arizona request was just too large.
Shope’s legislation will have a clause stating that the additional money the state allocates for the project will be returned to the state treasury should any new federal funding be procured.
Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland has stressed the urgent need for the improvements and previously expressed his disappointment at the National Infrastructure Project Assistance grant rejection.
Arizona has already appropriated $400M toward the project under a measure introduced by Shope last year. That appropriation passed both houses of the Arizona Legislature by nearly unanimous margins. Given that the state expects to see far more moderate revenue growth this fiscal year, a second major appropriation might face a harder time.
Officials are optimistic about the potential for securing another grant for the project, based on the learning experience attached to the first one. Shope is also optimistic the reimbursement to the state of any funds secured under a federal grant will make his recommendation more appealing to fellow legislators. (Source)