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The Arizona Republic
Apr. 25, 2006 12:00 AM

"We are being sold down the river with untruth, lack of full disclosure, and these people (ADOT) are a disgrace." - Greta Rogers

"With the mountains being there . . . geographically I just think (the South Mountain Freeway) is wrong." - Patricia Laity

Huppenthal: Report 'disappointing'

"In 10 years we will get to the point where people understand that (freeway pollution) is as dangerous as secondhand smoke." - Melanie Pai, founder, Protecting Arizona's Resources and Children

"At this point, the option we have on the table is Pecos Road." - Matt Burdick, ADOT

spokesman Among the members of the public in attendance at Monday's Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee was one recognizable face: state Sen. John Huppenthal.

Huppenthal, who did not address the committee, said afterward that he found the Arizona Department of Transportation's report on the South Mountain Freeway "very disappointing."

Having sat on the Chandler City Council when that city was planning for the expansion of Loop 101 and Loop 202, Huppenthal said the responses of ADOT and the Maricopa Association of Governments to residents' questions about traffic and environmental concerns have been subpar.

"There are still a lot of unanswered issues for this late in the day," he said. "They haven't done anything to convert lines on a map to a plan."

Huppenthal said he plans to set up a meeting between representatives from the Village Planning Committee, MAG and ADOT.

MAG has the final decision on if and where the freeway will be built. The project will not go before the Arizona Legislature.

- Corinne Purtill