Reasons to stay course

Approved 55th Ave. alignment would be less disruptive

The Arizona Republic
Nov. 18, 2005 12:00 AM  

I represent the Citizens Supporting the 55th Avenue Alignment Coalition. The coalition is composed of farmers, ranchers, long-term residents, home builders, business owners and developers in Laveen.

There are a great number of reasons that the alignment for the proposed South Mountain Freeway should run along its approved course at 55th Avenue. Among them:

• History. In 1988, the Maricopa Association of Governments adopted the alignment as part of the overall General Plan. The developers and home builders of the hundreds of homes and businesses that stand in the freeway's proposed path had a legal obligation to inform potential homebuyers and business owners.  

• Planning. When MAG approved the extension, Phoenix halted further development where the footprint of the freeway would eventually be built. Additionally, the city built wider-than-average eastbound and westbound roads, to ease access to the alignment at 55th Avenue.

• Future growth. Approximately 50 percent of building permits issued by Phoenix are for new development in the Laveen and Estrella villages. These major village cores will eventually grow to a combined population of more than 180,000 residents. Without a major thoroughfare toward Phoenix's downtown business center, the small streets to and from these villages will be a debilitating gridlock.

• Job opportunities. Major retail development follows the building of major freeways. The route will create more jobs and generate new taxes.

• 55th Avenue vs. Loop 101. The number of homes and businesses requiring acquisition will pale in comparison with the disruption of homes and businesses should the continuation of Loop 101 become the route of choice. Relocating Holsum Bakery would cost more than $75 million itself. Consider the impact on Tolleson and its 5,000 residents and numerous businesses, employing more than 20,000 people. A Loop 101 extension would bisect Tolleson, tearing apart the fabric of the city.

• South Mountain Park. Phoenix is opposed to a freeway presence in the park, but is enthusiastically supportive of the north- and southbound portion of the South Mountain Freeway at 55th Avenue.

• Gila River Indian Community. The tribe has been in discussions regarding the Pecos Road portion of the freeway and is considering the option of moving it to reservation land. These negotiations can take several years. The north- and southbound portion of the freeway needs to be resolved first in order for the tribal discussions to proceed.

• Maryvale. Its revitalization is a key component in keeping with the original alignment at 55th Avenue.

Phoenix is the sixth-largest city in the country. With no end in sight to this growth, a reliever for Interstate 10 is necessary to accommodate and vitalize the commercial and residential growth of the Southwest Valley.

Our goal, in partnership with Phoenix, is to persuade decision-makers to approve an alignment that is the least disruptive, utmost respectful, unquestionably efficient, economically productive and, ultimately, unwavering to the city's General Plan that was established, agreed to and built upon over the past 20 years.

Leslie C. Williams is president of the Citizens Supporting the 55th Avenue Alignment Coalition. He can be reached at lesliecwilliams@cox.net.