PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona’s two most populous counties will continue with a half-cent tax to fund transportation projects as the Phoenix metropolitan area and surrounding areas continue to experience a population boom. We are holding a vote to decide what to do.
In Maricopa County, the tax will be on the ballot this year as Proposition 479. Voters first approved the tax in 1985 and renewed it in 2004, contributing to the construction of the Beltway and SR-51.
FILE – In this Jan. 24, 2020 file photo, early morning rush hour traffic travels along I-10 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)(Ross D. Franklin | AP)
If passed, the tax would be extended for another 20 years and would raise nearly $15 billion in revenue (in 2020 dollars, not accounting for inflation).
An overwhelming majority of Arizonans support this ballot measure, which is supported by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) and all major cities around the Phoenix area.
Officials say the funding could keep the Valley’s average commute time down to about 30 minutes by 2050, even if the population increases by 1.7 million people and 900,000 jobs based on current projections. There is.
Phoenix city officials say the money will help maintain the Valley Metro light rail system, create new bus rapid transit routes, improve several busy roads, and improve the interstate corridor known as the “spine.” It says it will help improve a 50-mile section of Highway 17 and Interstate 10. Corridors” account for nearly half of daily highway traffic.
The money could also help complete Loop 303 and accelerate the development of State Route 30, a new route between Phoenix and Buckeye.
MAG reports that compared to a “no-construction scenario,” Prop 479 will reduce afternoon commute times by one-third and help reduce congestion on critical freight routes. This will generate $2.4 billion in net new economic activity annually, save local businesses travel time and transportation/logistics costs, and create more than 30,000 good-paying jobs.
In fast-growing Pinal County, voters are deciding whether to keep the same taxes in their community. The county has added about 60,000 people since 2020, an increase of nearly 14%.
Traffic is a major concern in Maricopa, a developing city about 40 miles south of Phoenix, with state Route 347 the only major route into the Valley.
Over the past five years, the tax has generated $10 million to $15 million for road repairs, air pollution reduction and pavement preservation, according to the county. Continuation of the tax is important for city leaders looking to find new ways to keep up with growth.
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