State Transportation Board Adopts and Supports
Statewide Transportation Investment Strategy
June 19, 2008
PHOENIX — The State Transportation Board today adopted the Statewide Transportation Investment Strategy, a comprehensive transportation improvement program for Arizona, as part of the State’s Long-Range Transportation Plan.
“The program ADOT presented to us clearly shows a mind shift when it comes to transportation in Arizona, focusing squarely on sustainability, connecting growth and development with transportation, offering transportation options to our citizens, and protecting our environment,” said State Transportation Board Chairman Si Schorr.
The $42.5 billion Statewide Transportation Investment Strategy was developed by ADOT and its planning partners around the state. The investment strategy allows ADOT to continue to work with local communities to prepare for growth, preserve quality of life and minimize impacts on the natural environment.
“The investment strategy creates a statewide vision for transportation with diverse solutions for diverse needs,” said ADOT Director Victor Mendez, who has spent the past six months traveling the state to provide information on the strategy and listen to comments.
The strategy is based on a list of “Critical Transportation Needs” that was submitted to Governor Janet Napolitano earlier this year in response to Executive Order 2008-02.
“The Board’s action today outlines a comprehensive investment strategy to reduce the time tax we now spend stuck in traffic, away from our homes and families,” said Governor Napolitano. “It will guide how our state grows and reinforce regional, local and private investments.”
The Statewide Transportation Investment Strategy, which currently is not funded, would provide improvements to existing roads, build new roads, develop high-speed and commuter rail, expand transit services, and create a special environmental conservation fund.
“The program addresses necessary forward thinking, such as transit and rail, to move us into our future with less dependence upon gasoline and with transportation options that will reduce the time tax,” said Mendez. “We have received very good input. We are hearing around the state that transportation funding is crucial and that our ability to thrive as a state depends upon improvements to our transportation system.”
The Board’s actions reiterated comments made at statewide public hearings, by both public and private sector representatives, calling for immediate action to address Arizona’s transportation funding crisis.
“The Board’s ability to reasonably meet statewide transportation demand is seriously hampered by the lack of adequate funding now and in the future,” added Schorr.
As an advisor to the Department with policy powers, the Board will take final action on the strategy if funding becomes available.
