Minutes of a Public Meeting

 

PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED SUMMARY

OF A PUBLIC INPUT MEETING,

HELD IN THE CITY OF SIERRA VISTA, FOR THE

GOVERNOR’S TRANSPORTATION VISION 21 TASK FORCE

5:16 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 1999

Buena High School Performing Arts Center
5225 Buena School Boulevard
Sierra Vista, Arizona

The Governor’s Transportation Vision 21 Task Force met in official session for a Public Meeting at 5:16 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 1999 with Martin Shultz and Sharon Megdal presiding. Other members in attendance were Steve Basila, John Bivens, Priscilla Cornelio, Joe Herrick, Diane McCarthy, Sheldon Miller, Dave Olney, Ingo Radicke, Rene Redondo and Frank Thorwald. Also present were Stephanie Bondeson, ADOT Project Manager for the task force, and John Carlson, Governor’s Transportation Advisor.

Welcome, Introductions

Dr. Megdal called the meeting to order and provided attendees with background information on the responsibilities of the task force. Dr. Megdal reviewed the time line for submitting interim and final reports and thanked attendees for their input. Introductions were deferred until all members were present.

Mr. Shultz emphasized the Task force is charged with and committed to thinking statewide. He wanted to assure everyone that, while it does take time, statewide concerns are taken seriously.

Comments from Local Elected Officials

Mayor Richard Archer was introduced and welcomed those visiting. Mayor Archer indicated their greatest issue at this time is the flight property tax revenue. In the last few years, Sierra Vista has lost 50 percent of the tax revenue and would like to have that revenue restored to 100 percent. He provided a brief history of the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport and their vision for its future. Mayor Archer also inquired about the TEA 21 funding for rural areas. Mayor Archer expressed his hope that SEAGO and the people in Southeastern Arizona would receive more money. Furthermore, Mayor Archer stated he would like to see the committee continue to fund the intermodal transportation enhancement grant projects. He briefly discussed the improvements that have been made through this fund. Mayor Archer also recommended that the process for plan review and project implementation be streamlined. Other areas of concern identified by Mayor Archer were the public transit system for which he hoped funding would continue, a bypass around Sierra Vista and an increase in air service to rural Arizona.

Dr. Megdal introduced Supervisor Tony Saracino who discussed S.R. 92. Mr. Saracino discussed the growth in both commercial and residential developments along S.R. 92 and his, as well as other constituents, belief that it no longer functions as a safe high speed and efficient arterial. Mr. Saracino lobbied for support of bypass 90. He inquired as to why there has been a two-year delay in the allocation of monies for this project in the new state five-year plan. He further expressed his concern that only three members on the task force were from rural counties. Mr. Saracino also suggested the COG system may need to be reassessed as to its effectiveness and responsiveness to the local jurisdictions. Mr. Saracino also discussed the Naco Highway and his belief that Bisbee and Cochise County should not be financially responsible for this road.

Dr. Megdal took this opportunity to allow each task force member in attendance to introduce themselves.

Dr. Megdal introduced Graham County Supervisor Haynes Moore who asked that the state continue to increase the TEA 21 funding allocation to rural Arizona. He pointed out that the highway system in rural Arizona is aging and needs to be addressed for the safety of all Arizona residents and visitors. Mr. Moore stated that Graham County is going to be the second fastest growing county on a percentage basis over the next 10 years.

Mr. Don Stacey, Greenlee County Supervisor, spoke regarding S.R. 191 from the freeway to Graham County which hasn’t changed in 50 years. Due to the open pit copper mine in Greenlee County, very heavy trucks utilize this road.

Mr. Jerry Williams, State Transportation Board member, discussed transportation as being a vital ingredient to growth and the future of Arizona. He highlighted the Department of Transportation aeronautical division and the flight property tax. He stated that the capitalization for the aeronautical improvement funds needs to be restored and that the funds be available equally to the various airports around the state. Mr. Williams also expressed concern regarding the amount of time it takes to do a project. The average time to do an airport improvement project is four years.

Mr. Shultz asked that Mr. Williams do additional research into specific recommendations on how to shorten the length of time needed to do an airport improvement project. Mr. Williams said those recommendations would be forthcoming.

Dr. Megdal introduced Supervisor Robert Rojas of Nogales who stated that the state and federal government must take a more active role in funding transportation. He stated that the roads around Nogales are insufficient to handle the traffic flow created by the produce industry. He pointed out specific needs which include improvements to Interstate 19, S.R. 89 and a new bridge between Rio Rico and Tumacacori.

Mr. Shultz informed Mr. Rojas that the case for Nogales was presented at the Tucson public hearing as well and offered to provide copies of information passed out at that hearing.

Comments from the Public

Mr. Quentin Lewton addressed the issue of funding improvements, services and infrastructure. He briefly outlined a bill currently in Congress, HR 1452, that he feels may assist in solving some of the problems. Mr. Lewton touched on the continuing increase in traffic when, as of January 1, trucks from Mexico will have full access to the United States and Canada. Additionally, Congressman Kolbe and Congressman Pasteur are going to introduce legislation to turn the Sonoita area and the whole valley into a national conservation area. He questioned what the impact would be on tourists and truck traffic. Mr. Lewton expressed strong support for the bypass corridor from I-19 to I-10.

Mr. Gerardo Calza from Nogales was introduced and requested assistance in securing monies under Section 1119, the TEA 21. They are in the process of negotiating an IGA between the city and ADOT.

Mr. Shultz addressed the funding issued raised by both Mr. Lewton and Mr. Calza. He stated it would be helpful from a local government standpoint to get a more precise idea about specific funding options that would be made available.

Mr. Lewton clarified that the money made available in HR1452 are loans, not grants, and stated that the bill could be accessed on the Internet for anyone interested in reading it.

Mr. Joe Carter introduced himself and gave a brief background of his experience. Mr. Carter states that transportation issues continue to be the greatest challenges facing rural Arizona. He raised issues of public transit systems and air transportation. He cites that even though the federal government conveyed mass acres of public land to local communities in the 50’s and 60’s to promote air transportation, most of the communities are without passenger and cargo services. There are 12 airports in Arizona that conveyance restrictions limit the use of those properties. Mr. Carter asked that the Task force join in the endeavor to make it a priority to get those restrictions lifted. Mr. Carter also focused on state routes and county roads as being lifelines for citizens in terms of access to regional medical facilities, to trades and services and government services. He would like to see that the Task force’s recommendations include some objective to move toward a seamless system as opposed to state routes, federal routes and county roads. Mr. Carter also urged that, in reference to border crossings and international trade, that the Task force look beyond Arizona as the impact is identical to the four states in which the nine major crossings are located. He suggested that Arizona join with the other states in pursuing greater federal participation in upgrading the infrastructure as it relates to the border.

Mr. Olney asked Mr. Carter his opinion on major employers contributing to the funding of mass transit systems rather than the use of sales taxes. While Mr. Carter feels that while there is a partnership role, the private sector can be more effective and more creative in providing a lot of these services.

Mr. George Hays from Hereford addressed the issue of border crossings. He stated that Mexico is now the United States’ second major trading partner. He stated that the day before yesterday, the United States Secretary of Transportation, Rodney Slater, awarded Arizona several millions of dollars, including two and a half million dollars to complete the combined joint port project at Nogales. He briefly discussed the developments taking place at the relief ports in Douglas, San Luis and Naco. He described rail links as being vital to the economies of Sonora and Arizona as well as the local communities and the county as a whole. He suggested that a lot of encouragement be given to the local, county and state governments to form compacts, partnering agreements where they can pool resources.

Mr. Thorwald asked what the volume of products brought in from Mexico. Mr. Hays answered that 85 percent of the goods are produced in Mexico and transported into the United States via truck or commercial vehicle. The remainder is transported on rail, via aircraft and probably some boat shipments. Mr. Hays cited projections that the shipment of goods from Mexico into Arizona will increase over the next five years by 85 percent. Right now a growth rate of 10% is being experienced without the full implementation of NAFTA.

Cecil Nist urged the Task force to find ways to get traffic out of the major Sierra Vista area either through the creation of a bypass or other parallel roads.

Dr. Megdal introduced Joe Brannan, Executive Director of SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization, and thanked he and his staff for organizing the meeting. Mr. Brannan acknowledged that every project discussed here is a viable, good project. He stated there are a number of categories of funding that support and maintain the lack of a seam from the New Mexico border to the California border and from the Mexico border to the Nevada and Utah borders. He cites pavement preservation as being of tremendous importance to rural counties. It is important that in the rural counties there are several "categorical funding areas" that money is currently allocated through the State Transportation Board, including the service transportation funding and transportation enhancement projects. He states that a lot of that allocation scheme has been satisfactory for maintaining some level of quality transportation in rural Arizona.

Ms. McCarthy inquired as to whether there are state categories mandated by ADOT in addition to the federal categories under TEA 21. Mr. Brannan deferred to the Board members but stated he believed this to be correct.

Mr. Shultz asked for specific recommendations from Mr. Brannan as to where monies for additional projects will be found and how the system of governance, even beyond that of ADOT, can be improved on and made more efficient.

The meeting was recessed for a short break from 7:01 p.m. to 7:20 p.m.

Mr. Ron Casper introduced himself and gave a brief description of his background. Mr. Casper discussed the roads in southeast Arizona that were constructed in the mid 40s and the bridges that were built in the teens and ‘20s. He stressed the need to look at safety issues. He states that the equipment, tools and funds are not available to maintain guardrails when they are hit, weeds grow up around them or when they block access to side accesses. He suggests that there needs to be an interchange between I-10 and S.R. 90 that begets their importance. He challenges the transportation industry to look at opportunities to cut down the time frame to be able to react when something is identified as a potential project.

Mr. Casper confirmed for Mr. Redondo that he supports perhaps decentralizing the conceptual visualization, design and predesign processes and utilizing those elements of the consultant industry.

Mr. Thorwald presented a letter from the town manager of Pinetop-Lakeside regarding HURF revenues. Dr. Megdal included the letter as a part of the written comments coming in through this public input session.

Closing comments and adjournment.

The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

MARTIN SHULTZ, Co-Chairperson

SHARON MEDGAL, Co-Chairperson

The following written comments were submitted to be included in the record:

Mr. Paul M. Watson presented a brief overview of the HURF revenues and the formulas used to distribute those funds back to the cities and towns. He states that Pinetop-Lakeside faces a problem in that their permanent population is approximately 3,500 people but they service a population of 10,000-30,000 people. These people may spend six months in Pinetop, but all state shared revenues are redistributed to their community of primary residence. Mr. Watson explains that he feels if consideration were given to miles of roads, weather impacts and volume of traffic in a community, there would be significant increases in Pinetop’s HURF revenues.

A complete transcript of this meeting is available for review, upon request.