Minutes of a Public Meeting
PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED SUMMARY
OF A PUBLIC INPUT MEETING,
HELD IN THE CITY OF YUMA, FOR THE
GOVERNOR’S TRANSPORTATION VISION 21 TASK FORCE
5:00 p.m., Thursday, May 6, 1999
City of Yuma Council Chambers
180 West 1st Street
Yuma, Arizona
The Governor’s Transportation Vision 21 Task Force met in official session for a Public Meeting at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, May 6, 1999, with Co-Chairpersons Martin Shultz and Sharon Megdal presiding. Other members present were: Joe Herrick, John Hudson, Mary Peters and Rene Redondo. Also present were Stephanie Bondeson, ADOT Project Manager for the task force; and John Carlson, Governor’s Transportation Advisor.
Welcome, Introductions, Charge of the Task Force
Dr. Megdal called the meeting to order, and the co-chairs and each member introduced themselves.
Mr. Shultz explained that members were present at approximately 20 broadcast sites throughout the state and recognized the elected officials that might also be present at those sites. He explained that there would be an opportunity for the public to speak from those sites at this and future meetings.
Ms. Megdal explained how the meeting would be conducted. She provided a brief background presentation on the formation of the task force and discussed the charge of the task force by the Executive Order of Governor Hull. She stressed the importance of public input in the process and explained the multiphase public input process.
Mr. Shultz acknowledged the talent involved with the members of the task force. He also discussed the YMPO organization and the fact that Yuma is the hub of activities for 150 miles in any direction in Arizona and California. He noted the outstanding planning efforts the YMPO has demonstrated. He was hopeful that the ideas that would be put forth by YMPO could be incorporated into the final recommendations of the task force. He stated the goal to put forth a set of specific recommendations that can be implemented and financed.
Presentation by Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization and Comments from Local Elected Officials and Public Speakers
Mr. John Gross, Executive Director, Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization, spoke about the formation of the YMPO, which as others is authorized under the Federal Highway Act of 1962. The Yuma region formed the YMPO in 1983 as a result of the 1980 federal census. He outlined the initial members and the members today. He also listed the ex-officio members. He stated that this was the first bi-state MPO, serving Yuma County and Winterhaven, California. Additionally, YMPO is currently engaged in cross border planning with the City of San Luis, Sonora, Mexico in the development of a new commercial port of entry. Mr. Gross explained the day-to-day operation of the YMPO as well as the 3C transportation planning process. He reviewed the essential work tasks of the YMPO and discussed the process of developing a new long-range transportation plan, which has just begun. He stated that the current plan identifies an 81 million dollar shortfall in funding to meet the transportation needs of the YMPO. He explained that the revenue side of the plan simply carried forward today’s revenue sources. Mr. Gross explained the three categories of projects that are in their five-year transportation improvement program: state highway system projects, projects on the federal aid system and projects on local streets and roads. He identified the funding sources currently included in the YMPO’s transportation plan.
Mr. Herrick asked if the YMPO has any revenue sources besides HURF. Mr. Gross answered that while the YMPO does not, its member agencies do. For example the City of Yuma has a half cent sales tax that is used for transportation projects. They have never passed a bond package for transportation.
Mr. Gross confirmed for Ms. Peters that their five-year and long-range plans both include air travel and rail travel in addition to highway transportation needs.
Mr. Gross confirmed for Dr. Megdal that the implementation of projects is done by the local member agencies, depending on whose jurisdiction the project falls in.
Mr. Shultz asked how the YMPO considers constituencies such as the elderly, disabled, students, minorities and citizens in lower economic areas. Mr. Gross cited one example of services that meet the needs of these constituencies, Dial-A-Ride, which is subsidized by YMPO.
Mr. Gross stated that the forecast of transportation needs is projected at current levels as are the revenues. He confirmed that the revenues include the half cent sales tax money, which is forecast based on consistent growth for the 20-year period.
Ms. Lucy Shipp, Chairman of the Yuma County Board of Supervisors and member of the YMPO Executive Board, was introduced. Ms. Shipp suggested that a Dial-A-Ride booklet be provided to members of the task force. She thanked the task force for conducting a public meeting in Yuma and introduced two other members of the Board of Supervisors that were present, Casey Prochaska and Greg Ferguson. She stated that Yuma County spans 5,500 square miles, which makes it larger than the state of Connecticut. Current population is 135,000, and 80,000 winter visitors migrate to the area each year. She provided a statistical review of Yuma County’s economy. Yuma County is Arizona’s leading agricultural county and supplies 85 to 90 percent of the nation’s winter vegetables. It is also the largest producer of Medjool dates in the world. Yuma County has experienced a growth rate of 26 percent since 1990, and it is looking to the state to help provide the infrastructure needed to address that growth and the economic future. She discussed the county’s goal to be an integral part of the CANAMEX corridor and stated that they are developing projects that would handle the intermodal movement of goods from Mexico to the U.S., Pacific Rim and Canada. Ms. Shipp reviewed local projects critical to the future of Yuma County: the area surface highway and a new commercial port of entry. She explained that Yuma County would be proposing a half cent sales tax to voters in the November election and explained the purpose of the tax in detail.
Mr. Shultz implored the group to provide input on the restructure of the governance system generally in Arizona, especially as it would relate to the Yuma area and southwestern Arizona, to create greater efficiencies from inception to ultimate construction of projects. Ms. Peters also asked that Ms. Shipp and others present consider growth issues and how to deal with the transportation demands created by growth. She suggested that the Governor’s Growing Smarter Commission would be very interested in this input.
Mr. Gary Magrino, Transportation Committee Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the CANAMEX Corridor and the goal of the YMPO to create a plan to develop the various modes of transportation necessary: highway system, air system, pipeline system, electronic transmission system and microwave capabilities. He suggested that Arizona’s charger is to find out how it can capitalize and become more competitive against Texas and New Mexico in capturing the transport of goods and services along the route between Mexico and Canada.
Mr. Shultz emphasized the importance of communication between the area’s representative on the CANAMEX Task Force, Mr. Russ Jones, and the YMPO.
At the request of Dr. Megdal, Mr. Magrino commented on his personal family history in the transportation industry. He discussed his involvement on an advisory committee for ADOT, HELP, which will review loans for the State Infrastructure Bank. He said he is also pending senate ratification on the ISTEA board for industrial development.
Mr. Joe Harper, (title?), spoke on the subject of the growth rate being experienced in the Yuma area, 20 to 25 percent a year, and the challenges that rate of growth presents. He discussed the tie to the port of entry problem. He stated that the port of entry on both sides of the border is gridlocked. A four-hour wait to cross the border is not uncommon, and waiting in the desert temperatures creates a dangerous situation. He explained the San Luis Port of Entry, which will be an extension of the existing port of entry. He discussed the benefits that would be realized on both sides of the border. He commented on how the area service highway would also relieve the existing situation. He stated that the community’s commitment to the port of entry is so strong that they are willing to pay for it themselves. He spoke of planned improvements to the existing port of entry as well, which would add six or seven lanes and create room for speed/century lanes. He was very optimistic about the significant impact the port of entry improvements would have on Yuma County.
At the request of Mr. Shultz, Mr. Harper explained the century lane concept, which would allow those approved to move through the port without any wait.
In response to a question by Mr. Hudson, Mr. Harper explained that there are some legal problems with the port authority, and they may need to seek legislation to make the port authority work. As of yet, they have not really come up with the authority to create a port authority as yet. Mr. Magrino added that an IGA is in place that would allow the purchase of the property and then place the property in a trust. They are working on legislation that would establish the Greater Yuma Port Authority.
Mr. Frank Irr, Councilmember, City of Yuma, described the area service highway that will run from the City of San Luis to Interstate 8. This is a project that has been in the works since the mid 1980s. It is intended to take pressure off of the present Highway 95. He explained the funding agreement between YMPO and ADOT. He reviewed the many purposes that the highway will serve. He stated that the area service highway has made its way from a vision into the 2000-2004 ADOT construction program.
Dr. Megdal reiterated that the area service highway is the culmination of 20 years of work, culminating in a multi-party IGA signed in 1998. She noted also that school buses currently transport 1,700 students into Yuma daily. Additionally, a significant number of workers are transported from the Mexican border into Yuma as a result of the agricultural activity in the area. Mr. Irr added that the area service highway will be a limited access highway, thus much safer than the current route on which the students and workers travel. Mr. Hudson stated that if the State Transportation Board approves the current tentative program, the construction of the area service highway will begin in 2004.
Ms. Peters discussed the impact of Bill 1201, which has been presented for the Governor’s action. The bill will capitalize the State Infrastructure Bank and may be a tremendous opportunity to begin completion of the area service highway. It will make more than 100 million dollars available statewide, exclusive of Pima and Maricopa counties, for financing projects.
Mr. Redondo commented that he has been hearing from smaller communities that it takes so long for a project to work through the process that once construction begins the project is obsolete. He called for input on facing this challenge. He stated that the task force is not intended to address specific projects but to make recommendations to the Governor on how the process can be streamlined to effect quicker implementation of projects.
Mr. Hudson commented that while the area service highway has been under consideration for many years, the alignment was only agreed on in 1994. Once the alignment was agreed to, the funding study and major investment study were performed. He did not know how the project could have moved any faster than it has. Ms. Shipp noted that it will be ten years between the time the alignment was set and construction is begun. Mr. Shultz challenged the YMPO to think about how the area service highway project could have moved from inception to final construction in a shorter period of time. Dr. Megdal suggested that the area service highway project may in fact be an example of how quickly things can happen, especially considering the major issues that had to be resolved. She felt it may be appropriate to conduct some specific case studies to come up with ways to improve the process. She felt that congratulations were in order to the YMPO for taking a project that was a line on a piece of paper and turning it into a multi-governmental IGA as quickly as they did.
Mr. Dave Wiseman, Yuma Services Corporation, said that he was awarded the contract to organize a transportation consortium in Yuma County, funded by the federal government through DES and United Way of Greater Tucson. He explained the project and solicited the help of those present. The project is part of the Welfare Reform Act, designed to get people off of welfare by removing transportation barriers. His job will be to create a consortium of concerned citizens to help fulfill the objective. He outlined several private and public efforts (i.e. Exxon Corporation and Catholic Community Services) to provide means of transportation so that people can get off welfare and help the working poor keep working. He stated that there are no prohibitions to widening the consortium efforts to overcome barriers to transportation in other needy groups, such as the elderly or developmentally disabled. He stated that Job Express is the United Way term for the program.
Ms. Peters suggested that Mr. Bill Sauter with ADOT’s transit branch may be of assistance to the program.
Mr. John Hunter, Governor’s State Rehab Council, stated his concern with working with DES rehab services to promote rehabilitation for disabled individuals and to help them become employable. He also works with employers to encourage them to hire persons with disabilities. He stated that transportation is a significant barrier. He acknowledged the freedom that Dial-A-Ride has provided to many. He called for the task force to give strong consideration to those with disabilities as it creates a transportation vision for Arizona. Mr. Hunter said that he personally uses Dial-A-Ride five or six trips a week, and he is a fairly typical user.
Mr. Shultz asked Mr. Hunter what other programs might fit into the overall plan for Arizona and then be implemented in communities to facilitate transportation for the elderly and disabled. Mr. Hunter explained that because a lot of those individuals have mobility problems, and door-to-door service suits them best. Another option might be a fixed route system where they could go door-to-door. He said he would think more about the question. Mr. Shultz encouraged him to contact the task force with his ideas.
Dr. Megdal explained that a mailing list would be created to facilitate a greater level of communication. She encouraged everyone present to fill out the sign-in sheet.
Ms. Martha Rogers stated that her concern is with transportation for low income individuals. She has been working in this area since the mid 1980s. She stated that Dial-A-Ride is somewhat effective and the use of cabs is not cost effective. What is really needed is a true public transportation system for the citizens of Yuma.
Mr. Art Everett, Yuma City Councilmember, Deputy Mayor and chairman of WACOG, wished to reinforce the need for rural representation on transportation related committees and the State Transportation Board. He stated that Arizona’s rural communities would like to see the CANAMAX Corridor completed as well as the Hoover Dam bypass. He reported on a youth task force that asked teens 14-18 in Yuma and the surrounding areas what they would like to see. The number one concern among 7,000 respondents was transportation. He spoke to the benefit of partnering on projects, citing the "big curve" intersection improvement project as an example. He stated that they are working on several other joint projects with ADOT and Yuma County. He suggested partnering with the water user course (Stephanie, is water user course right--page 64?) to improve the efficiency of Highway 95. He suggested that partnering on projects would help move them through the process quicker. He suggested that the task force investigate the federal experimental project on electric magnetic railways as a means of completing a rapid rail service either between Yuma and Phoenix or Yuma and Tucson.
Ms. Peters indicated that ADOT has been working with Amtrak officials and UP officials with respect to options for both freight and passenger rail in the future. She said it is very important that Yuma, whose mayor serves on the Amtrak panel, continue to work to address rail needs. Mr. Everett commented that the rail system serving Yuma is currently not very efficient.
Ms. Louise Renault stated that Highway 85 is the primary route with which to reach Phoenix. She commented that if it were in Yuma County it would be given proper attention. However, it is in Maricopa County and deemed not very important. She spoke of the very high accident and fatality rate on the highway and stressed that it is a major connection between two heavily traveled interstates. She asked how the issue could be resolved. Ms. Renault suggested that another important transportation corridor consideration is data communication. She noted that U.S. West is leaving Yuma County and selling to another provider, primarily because their cables run east and west through Flagstaff and Tucson and not north and south. Mr. Hudson noted that the State Transportation Board would the next day consider the S.R. 85 corridor. Secondly, he agreed that the task force should look at how to break the barriers put in place by the urban planning organizations.
Ms. Emma Lea Shoop, City Councilmember in Yuma, noted that she also spent three years in the YMPO. She stated that the City of Yuma’s collaboration with other agencies has been very positive. She explained that the city is working hard to make Yuma more of a destination and noted that in size it is the third largest metropolitan area in Arizona. In expanding the tourism market and business industry, the city needs to expand its transportation system to move people and goods in and around the city. She said the city would like to continue partnering with ADOT as efficiently as possible. She strongly believes that all entities involved will have to put their money together to make the vision a reality.
Ms. Casey Prochaska, Yuma County Supervisor, recapped the problems the area experiences with the 3E interchange and the needs related to the widening of S.R. 95. She acknowledged the significant contributions of the YMPO’s Bob Vaughan (former director) and John Gross (current director) to transportation in Yuma County as well as the ADOT District Engineer, Bill Alfier. She spoke to the effectiveness of the YMPO working together with the technical advisory committee and how this benefits projects throughout the area. She urged everyone to think about what the CANAMEX Corridor and area service highway mean not only to Yuma County but to the entire state and Western United States. She said that the community needs to recognize that in order to get a project, money has to be committed and that money needs to come from the community that is asking for the project.
Mr. Paul Soto, representing the Cocopah Indian Tribe, said that his goal is to convince the YMPO board that he is real, that the tribe is real and that their commitment to invest in the region and the community is real. Ms. Peters suggested that what the agency and the task force have found is the need to better coordinate with tribal governments on their transportation needs. She asked that he poll other members of his tribal government on how ADOT might provide better coordination and consulting with the tribal governments on their transportation needs. Mr. Soto commented that he is interested in maximizing relationships to address the efficiency of transportation for his community and the region as a whole. Mr. Shultz discussed the need for tribal governments to provide, in writing, specific recommendations on how ADOT can better cooperate and collaborate with the tribal governments. Mr. Soto indicated that he wants to be in a position to allow the tribe to invest and produce alternatives to see that the job gets done. Upon inquiry by Dr. Megdal, Mr. Soto confirmed that a third of the Cocopah tribe, as a result of the Gadsden Purchase, those to live in Mexico and become Mexican citizens.
The meeting was recessed for a short break from 7:10 until 7:28 p.m.
Mr. Dave Ford, Chairman of the YMPO Technical Advisory Committee, added that he is public works director for the City of San Luis. He spoke of the significant growth that San Luis has experienced since 1990 (from 4,000 to 12,000). The City of San Luis is looking now at how they can move goods and services in and out of San Luis safely. He discussed two projects currently underway that will make a significant difference in San Luis, as well as the area service highway. One thing that they need is an easily accessible and affordable public transportation system in San Luis and between San Luis and Yuma. He was hopeful that the Dial-A-Ride program would become a permanent service. He added that YMPO is doing a feasibility study for a multi-modal transportation center within the city as well as intersection safety studies on several intersections throughout the city. He suggested that YMPO will have to look carefully at financing options. He spoke of the need to generate revenues in the rural areas of the state as well as the smaller cities.
Mr. Hudson asked about a bus service that was started in the past between San Luis and Yuma. He indicated that it was apparently put out of business by cab drivers that undercut his rates and then raised their rates to $25 when the bus service closed down. He asked how Mr. Ford would recommend dealing with this sort of issue. Mr. Ford said he would put something together and forward it to the task force members. Mr. Harper commented on the lengths they went to in order to stop the taxi drivers from driving the bus service out of business. He suggested that the state needs to come up with a way to control the issue. He noted that Nogales also has a similar problem.
Mr. Tom Manfredi, Community Planner for the Marine Corps Air Station, spoke of the significant accomplishment by YMPO to get three cities, a town, a county, the United States Air Force, the Marine Corps, and the Bureau of Land Management to buy into the area service highway project. He stated the position of the Air Station, that the road across the Goldwater Range is not going to impact the performance of the military’s missions. The Air Station supports all the efforts of the local community to complete a much needed local transportation infrastructure project.
Mr. Ed Thurmond, Yuma International Airport Director, commented that transportation is the chain that binds the economy together. He stated that the airport is delighted to be part of the multi-modal transportation chain. In air transportation funding is also the major roadblock to reaching their goals. He acknowledged Arizona’s ability in the past to offer funding at the rate of over $1 million per airport, which is double what Yuma gets from the Federal Aviation Administration, and outlined what that funding meant. He explained that the state legislature diverted 50 percent of the flight property tax funds two years ago, and airport representatives are continuing to battle the legislature on this. They were recently able to negotiate a return of 56 percent of the money to state’s airports, which is still a shortfall but is better than 50 percent. Because of how the funds will be distributed, airports outside the metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson will see grants drop from $1 million per year to less than $200,000 a year. He asked that the task force return to the Governor’s office with a single message: Aviation, which is a vital link in the multi-modal transportation chain, is strangling. He cited examples of serious needs at the Yuma International Airport. Mr. Thurmond told of a significant project on which the district engineer cooperated with aviation and expressed appreciation for that cooperation.
Mr. Gross, in his closing comments, boiled all the comments made down to three points they would like the task force to take back. Yuma, just like the rest of the state, has more transportation needs than funding. Planning and coordination are key to accomplishing transportation objectives. Three, no matter what process is recommended, the bottom line is that the amount of money available statewide for transportation funding is not sufficient. He concluded by stating that it is in the interest of all citizens of Arizona that the pot of money be increased.
Mr. Robert Vaughn said that he wished to add one comment to a letter submitted directly to the task force, which contained nine points. He suggested that the Vision 21 plan should recommend that ADOT staff be compensated with salaries that are competitive with other employers based on education, experience and level of responsibility. He stated that there is only one registered professional engineer in the entire Yuma district, Mr. Alfier. He felt this was potentially a very dangerous situation for the state of Arizona considering the millions of dollars of projects underway.
Ms. Peters acknowledged the serious situation that ADOT is faced with due to the compensation it offers. She said that the engineering turnover rate is approaching 30 percent in the agency. Mr. Hudson wished the record to reflect his belief that the situation is not serious but critical. Mr. Redondo added that the contracting community is also keenly aware of the problem, and they followed and endorsed the recent efforts with the legislature. Mr. Shultz suggested that the state’s liability needs to be added to the task force’s agenda. The task force needs to understand how its recommendations add to the reduction in the state’s liability or whether they potentially contribute to an increase in the tort liability.
Mr. Jack Simes, representing the Yuma Proving Grounds, spoke about the expansion of S.R. 95 north. The biggest issue in his opinion is safety because of the vast numbers of commuters that come from Yuma and the rural parts of the county to the proving grounds. He commended the task force for taking a proactive approach. He emphasized the need to distribute the resources in an equitable manner.
Mr. Ken Rosevear, Executive Director, Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, compared Yuma County and the opportunities presented by the area service highway and the new port of entry to that of Imperial County in California. He assured those present of the significant growth that would occur as a result of the investment being made. He stated that when he visits the business people in Yuma County transportation is a big issue. Route 95 is also a big issue for business people. He supported the urgency of addressing S.R. 85. He noted that the people of Yuma have to go to the metropolitan areas to get specialty medical attention, and transportation presents a problem.
Mr. Shultz, thinking ahead to the recommendation portion of the task force’s charge, spoke of the need at that point to sell the recommendations to the business community. He asked Mr. Rosevear to provide documentation as to how much transportation is involved in getting products to market in what is an international trade hub, as well as the overall cost of getting that product to market. He felt this would demonstrate the importance of transportation and facilitate international trade in the Yuma area. Mr. Rosevear agreed to take this on as an assignment.
Ms. Sharon White stated that she represents women in Yuma County and the surrounding area who may be pregnant, married or unmarried. She stated that she has pleaded with the city and county for eight to ten years for a simple bus transportation system in Yuma. She called for the implementation of some of the things that have been studied and found feasible. She described one client who is unable to use her veterans allotment to go to college, because she can’t get her children to a childcare provider and herself to college. She suggested that the small person with simple needs is being passed over. She stated that the community needs to contribute to the healthy progress of these young women by creating a public transportation system.
Closing Comments and Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
MARTIN SHULTZ, Co-Chairperson
SHARON MEGDAL, Co-Chairperson
A complete transcript of this meeting is available for review, upon request.
