Regional Council Activity Report October 1, 1998
Executive Director’s Report
The Maricopa Association of Governments continues to focus on
the recent increase in federal transportation funding under the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). We must
continue to work diligently to ensure that the citizens of the
Maricopa Region receive a fair share of this increase, and that
highway dollars returned to the state by the federal government
are allocated equitably. Under the “fair share” concept,
regions would receive one dollar back from the federal government
for every dollar collected through state and federal gas taxes.
Without regional commitment to these efforts, Maricopa County
citizens stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars over the
next five years in possible transportation funding.
Determined to get the most equitable distribution possible, the Maricopa Association of Governments met this month with the Pima Association of Governments and the Arizona Department of Transportation. MAG staff has spent many hours analyzing what percentage of ADOT discretionary funds equates to a fair share, and a report summarizing these findings was presented to the Regional Council during the September 23rd meeting. (See information items summary.)
Following numerous discussions with ADOT staff over this difficult issue, a number of positive results have been achieved. One agreement includes the implementation of a fundamental change in the process for allocating available state and federal money for transportation, in which ADOT and MAG will work together along with the other regions of the state to develop an appropriate allocation of transportation funding. Another change involves a dual role in which ADOT and MAG will cooperatively plan projects for which available transportation funding will be used. Yet another change involves establishing stakeholder processes in each region to address transportation challenges. ADOT will be a major stakeholder in the regional process.
In other news, MAG is excited to announce publication of its “Phoenix Metropolitan Area Urban Atlas.” This document contains a wide range of information used in regional planning and which is beneficial to the general public. The Urban Atlas highlights the dynamics of the region through colorful area maps. These bright, easily-read maps examine everything from topography and land use to school standardized achievement scores.
A second exciting event is the recent acceleration of the MAG Telecommunications Project. Most of the money for this project has been made available for use immediately. This money will be used to hire a consultant to design the system, to purchase equipment, and to implement a telecommuting program in conjunction with the Regional Public Transportation Authority. One project objective is to establish teleconferencing sites at each member agency, which could dramatically assist our regional business.
Amendment to Change Study Parameters Continued in Next Meeting
The MAG Regional Council was asked to approve an amendment to
the 1999-2003 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The amendment
would extend the limits of the Design Concept Report on the Superstition
Freeway between I-10 and Gilbert Road to Power Road. The Regional
Council had previously voted to adopt High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)
lanes on the Superstition Freeway as one of its highest priorities
for ADOT discretionary funds, and ADOT is currently in the process
of preparing a Design Concept and Environmental Assessment for
this project. During a recent public meeting, ADOT received requests
that the limits of the study be extended to Power Road and that
the assessment include study of an additional Single Occupancy
Vehicle (SOV) lane. Chairman Neil Giuliano expressed the desire
to have a policy discussion about the addition of SOV lanes at
the next Regional Council meeting. The Council approved a motion
to delay action until the next meeting.
For more information, contact Terry
Johnson, MAG Transportation Planning Manager, 254-6300.
Final Phase Input Opportunity Report Approved
On September 15th, 1998, an open house and public hearing were
held by MAG for review and final comment on the Long Range Transportation
Plan, Transportation Improvement Program, and Conformity Analysis.
This opportunity represented the final phase of input for these
documents. MAG staff reported that public comments included expressed
needs for extended service in public transit and seamless dial-a-ride
service, concerns over the possible loss of funds from lottery
revenues, the importance of welfare to work initiatives, and a
variety of other issues. Staff reported that all public comments
were taken and responded to in writing. The Council voted to accept
the FY 1998 Final Phase Input Public Opportunity Report presented
by MAG.
For more information, contact John
Farry, Transportation Planning Program Manager, 254-6300.
Interchanges added to the MAG Freeway Program
The Council approved the addition of two interchanges to the MAG
Freeway Program. The City of Mesa and the Williams Gateway Airport
Authority requested than an interchange be added to the Santan
Freeway to service the Williams Gateway Airport at Hawes Road,
at an estimated cost of $7.5 million. The City of Phoenix requested
that an interchange be added on the Pima Freeway at 56th Street
at a cost of $3.6 million.
For more information, contact Eric
Anderson, MAG Freeway Program Manager, 470-1107.
Other Items
During the September 23rd meeting, the Regional Council also voted
to approve the following items: 1) FY 1999-2003 MAG Transportation
Improvement Program; 2) MAG Long Range Transportation Plan Summary
and 1997 Update With 1998 Addendum; 3) Acceptance of a Clean Cities
grant for approximately $92,0000 and an EPA Community Based Environmental
Protection/Regional Geographic Initiative Grant for $50,000; 4)
MAG 208 Water Quality Management Plan Amendment for the Villages
at Desert Hills Wastewater Treatment Facility; and 5) Conformity
Finding for the FY 1999-2003 MAG Transportation Improvement Program
and Long Range Transportation Plan Summary and 1997 Update with
1998 Addendum.
For more information, contact Terry
Johnson, Transportation Planning Manager, 254-6300.
Valley Vision 2025 Subcommittees, Collaborative Groups Meet
The Valley Vision 2025 process is really rolling — now, the
real work begins. On September 2nd, the Vision Committee broke
out into nine thematic subcommittees, marking the beginning of
one of the most important phases of this effort to date. The subcommittees
met to determine a range of topical questions and issues they
would like to see addressed by each of the 30 collaborative groups
in their individual communities. These “collaboratives”
will host meetings in October and November in which they will
identify their stakeholders, develop communication strategies,
and collect input from their communities. Based on information
provided in these meetings, each collaborative will then prepare
a report that will be used to further direct the efforts in drafting
a final vision plan.
For more information, contact Leslie
Dornfeld, MAG Regional Planning Manager, 254-6300.
Fair Share Analysis Presented to Council
During the September 23rd meeting, MAG Freeway Program Manager
Eric Anderson presented a Fair Share Analysis for Highway Funding
to the Regional Council. Eric reported that the population of
Maricopa County is greater that 20 states, that it would be the
28th largest state economy, and that $7 out of $10 originates
in Maricopa County. After a thorough analysis of state and federal
funds, Eric concluded that allocation of ADOT discretionary funds
based on Fair Share would equal about a 35.8% allocation of ADOT
discretionary funds. Under the current plan, however, MAG is only
programmed to receive about 10.5%.
For more information, contact Eric
Anderson, MAG Freeway Program Manager, 470-1107.
Status Report on West Side Restriping Efforts
The MAG Draft 1999-2003 Transportation Improvement Program includes
projects to resurface I-10 between 7th Avenue and 83rd Avenue,
and to add auxiliary lanes and to restripe I-10 to ten lanes between
7th Avenue and 59th Avenue. The Regional Council was informed
during its September 23rd meeting that discussions have been held
on whether a Major Investment Study was needed to conduct the
restriping project. A Major Investment Study Stakeholders meeting
was held on July 28, 1998, in which the consensus was that an
MIS was not needed, as restriping is not a major investment. The
MAG Transportation Review Board concurred. The subject was presented
as an information item only.
For more information, contact John
Farry, Transportation Planning Program Manager, 254-6300.
Next Regional Council Meeting
The next Regional Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, November
4th, 1998. This will be a study session. Agenda items are expected
to include a policy discussion about SOV lanes on the Superstition
Freeway.
For more information, contact James
M. Bourey, Executive Director, 254-6300.
MAG Distributes Domestic Violence Safety Plan
With the approach of October as the nation’s designated “Domestic
Violence Month,” MAG’s Domestic Violence subcommittee
wanted to do more than simply mark the occasion — it wanted
to find a way to help victims of abuse. So with the help of numerous
partners, MAG has put together a “Domestic Violence Safety
Plan.” A target goal of 100,000 copies of the single-page
brochure will be distributed through hospitals, food boxes, DES
offices, five human services centers, 18 senior centers, and 13
community action programs in Maricopa County. Anyone interested
in learning more about this effort or in obtaining copies of this
plan are asked to contact Carol Kratz, Human Services Director.
For more information, contact Carol
Kratz, Human Services Director, or Kelly Taft, Public Communications
Program Manager, at 254-6300.