The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) announced recently that 2015 “is shaping up to be a big year for … working on new and existing projects that will aid economic development and support efficient movement of goods and services across the state.”
All of the numerous projects on the ADOT queue are to be paid for with federal and state highway funds accrued through gas and vehicle license tax collection. Phoenix and Tuscan area voters previously approved measures of supplementary tax revenue generation in order to enable ADOT projects to move forward in those respective metropolitan areas unhindered by monetary concerns.
Among the 15 projects summarized by ADOT in its announcement, statewide projects will include a two-section widening of U.S. 93; a smattering of pavement improvements along I-40; landslide repairs to U.S. 89 near Bitter Springs; and a $22.5 million effort to widen roadway and passing lanes through an 8-mile stretch of S.R. 89A, just south of Flagstaff.
In addition to the full slate of projects, which can be viewed at ADOT’s website, two major studies will be undertaken, the first of which will take a look at I-11 from an environmental impact perspective, to the tune of $15 million. The study, expected to run for three years, will function as prerequisite for the planned multimodal freight corridor that will connect the state with the entire Intermountain West region.
ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study will also publish its draft environmental impact statement for public review, to be following subsequently by three public hearings on the matter. These hearings aim to give voice to community members so that final recommendations and environmental considerations can be adapted into the Final Environmental Impact Statement meant for federal approval. The Passenger Rail Corridor Study is expected to be completed in 2015.
