Why does it seem like south and southwest Phoenix are always last in line to get something?

Last to get new schools, last to get street improvements and last to get noticed for just about anything.

Now the area is last in line in a slow-as-molasses Arizona Department of Transportation plan for new freeways around the Valley. To add insult to injury, the last stretch of Loop 202, whose ring around the region is almost complete, has not even broken ground to connect the West Valley to Interstate 10 around South Mountain.

In fact, not only has the last leg not begun, city and state bureaucrats are still debating the new freeway's path.

Hello!

Meanwhile, truck-laden I-10 is grinding to a halt every morning, and booming growth in southwest Phoenix, Avondale and points west keep adding layers of traffic to an exhausted freeway. Meanwhile, planning committees and city councils continue to approve developers' requests to add more housing out west.

I say we take a time out to find some leadership.

Where are the so-called elected leaders on this issue? Where are the area's state senators and representatives? Where are the city council leaders? Where is the mayor? Where's the governor? It's only been two decades since the issue first came up. C'mon, people, let's choose an answer on this multiple-choice question.

The controversial last leg of Loop 202, which is tentatively set to follow 55th Avenue south from I-10 around the western end of South Mountain and then head east just south of Ahwatukee (along or near Pecos Road) until it meets I-10 near Chandler.

It's been held up for a variety of reasons. In a nutshell, here are the problems: Ahwatukee residents, who either were fooled into buying expensive homes near the proposed freeway or knew the road was coming in and bought them anyway, don't to ruin the value of their homes.

They want the freeway built on the neighboring Gila River Indian Reservation. The Native American group wants no part of a noisy, polluting expressway that developers, state planners and city officials have known about for years, but continued to allowing building as if it would never be built.

ADOT wants to run the freeway through part of South Mountain Park's west end to try to satisfy everyone. Phoenix says no way. The Maricopa Association of Governments may have a different view in the matter and its say may prevail.

And on the west side, Tolleson and western types want the expressway to connect with I-10 at Loop 101. Laveen interests say the freeway is theirs and its been planned that way for 20 years. What's more, horse-tract owners in "rural" Laveen are scared the massive new road will destroy their lifestyle.

Most of the concerns here are legitimate. I, however, tend to agree with Phoenix District 7 Councilman Doug Lingner when he told me a few weeks ago that the time for more debates, finger pointing and delays is over. It's time to build the last leg of the 202 and move on.

He's the only "leader" I've heard come out and support moving the issue ahead and have the dirt start flying. Lingner supports the 55th Avenue alignment.

I'm not altogether sure which route in west Phoenix might be the best, but if we have someone who has studied this issue at length, met with residents and wants to get Phoenix moving, he deserves support.

Remember, even though Lingner has voiced his opinion, his jurisdiction is only as big as District 7. This last leg, however, is more than a west Phoenix issue. It's a Maricopa County issue. It's an Arizona issue. It's a safety and environmental issue, and it's an interstate commerce issue.

It's time to get some leadership on this issue. Time to get this road built - even if it's the last thing we do.


Teclo Garcia is a senior editor at The Republic. Contact him at (602) 444-8281 or teclo.garcia@arizonarepublic.com.