Regional Council Activity Report
March 28, 2000
Executive Director’s Report
The month of March has brought many reminders that transportation issues are a high priority for Valley residents. From the passage of a four-tenths of a cent transit tax in Phoenix, to testimony from citizens regarding Superstition freeway issues, it is encouraging and heartening to see that citizens are engaged and involved in discussions affecting our transportation future. And, although opinions may differ on specific issues, there is universal agreement that transportation planning in the years to come must entail far more than pouring pavement, although freeway construction will continue to be an important strategy in moving traffic.
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is committed to “multi-modal” planning, an often misused (and occasionally even overused) label that encompasses everything from bike and pedestrian plans to telework and transit programs. But with the regional freeway system now being accelerated by seven years to 2007, it is imperative for us to stop and think about our regional focus once the freeway system is complete. How will our transportation decisions help this region prosper in the new economy? How will changes in land use, population growth, demographics and technology impact air quality, mobility, and our quality of life?
For MAG, this focus on the future has already begun. On Saturday, March 25, MAG brought together a group of private-sector transportation experts to discuss development of a new MAG Regional Transportation Plan. Participants considered a variety of potential impacts on future transportation planning, such as how the region’s continued growth will change transportation needs, how technology is changing our style of work, how the aging population and “echo boomers” (children of baby boomers) will impact travel, and more.
Another significant issue that will affect transportation patterns
is land use. Just last week, MAG was notified that it will receive
a $295,000 grant under the Transportation and Community and System
Preservation Program. The grant allows MAG to assist with implementing
Growing Smarter in the region. Through this project, MAG will
encourage a regional framework to facilitate transportation, infrastructure
and open space investment decisions, thereby contributing to sustainable
communities.
On March 21, MAG held a Regional Trails Forum as part of its development
of the Regional Off-Street System (ROSS) Plan. More than 30 citizens
attended the forum. The goal of the ROSS plan is to provide a
way for people to travel to local destinations by walking or bicycling.
These paved pathways and unpaved trails will be located in areas
such as canal banks, linear parkways and flood control channels
throughout Maricopa County. By helping to shape the pathway plan,
citizens are helping to improve air quality and relieve traffic
congestion, while at the same time finding a way to enjoy their
neighborhoods and communities.
The list goes on. Other MAG programs include developing bike and pedestrian plans, implementing regional videoconferencing systems, funding alternative fuel programs, and advancing human services plans that address often unthought-of transportation issues such as elderly mobility and welfare-to-work challenges.
As the single regional agency responsible for transportation, air quality, regional development and human services planning, MAG is in a unique position to lead the charge in improving the efficiency of our transportation system, reducing the impacts of transportation on the environment, and reducing the need for costly investments in public infrastructure in the future. We look upon this challenge as our responsibility, our duty, and our legacy to the future citizens of this region.
Council Approves TIP and Plan
The MAG Regional Council voted unanimously to approve for conformity
analysis a five-year transportation plan which includes 1,256
projects totaling $4.54 billion. The FY 2001-2005 MAG Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) includes more than a billion dollars
in transit improvements and contains numerous projects that are
part of an accelerated plan to complete the regional freeway system
by 2007, seven years earlier than originally planned. The TIP
also includes construction of HOV lanes along the Superstition
and Squaw Peak freeways and grade separations of eight traffic
interchanges along Grand Avenue.
The Council also unanimously approved the MAG Long Range Transportation
Plan, a transportation blueprint for the next 20 years. The plans
will now undergo analysis to ensure that the projects conform
to air quality standards. Once the conformity analysis is complete,
the plans will come back to the Council for final approval in
June or July.
For more information, contact Terry
Johnson, MAG Transportation Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Retaining Walls a Design Issue, Council Says
As part of its vote on the TIP, the Regional Council approved
funding for the realignment of retaining walls along the Superstition
Freeway. By a vote of 21-6, the Council decided that the issue
of where to place the walls is a design issue that should be determined
by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). The City of
Tempe has objected to ADOT’s plan to move the walls to a
location which would accommodate additional traffic lanes or transit
improvements in the future. Tempe, which opposes any additional
widening, wanted the walls moved only far enough to accommodate
a single HOV lane in each direction. ADOT maintained that moving
the walls to a location which would allow additional widening
could be less costly to taxpayers in the long run, saving the
expense of having to relocate the walls a second time should the
freeway later be expanded. The MAG Long Range Transportation Plan
does not call for any additional widening through Tempe, and if
any widening beyond the HOV lanes were to take place, it would
need MAG’s approval.
For more information, contact James
M. Bourey, MAG Executive Director, (602) 254-6300.
Intellisys to Implement Videoconferencing System
The MAG Regional Council approved a recommendation by the MAG
Telecommunications Advisory Committee and selected the Intellisys
Group to implement the MAG Videoconferencing System. The contract
amount will not exceed $1,100,000. The contract award and first
year’s network and operating costs together will not exceed
$1,426,000. Intellisys will be providing video and audio equipment
necessary to implement the regional videoconferencing system.
The goal of the MAG videoconferencing program is to enable members
to communicate directly with one another, agency-to-agency, as
well as increase participation from under-served populations who
may not be able to travel downtown for MAG meetings. In addition,
such access is expected to reduce regional vehicle trips, improve
air quality, save time, and enhance communications between cities
and other regional stakeholders.
For more information, contact Rita
Walton, MAG Information Services Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Deadline Approaches for EPA Approval of Carbon Monoxide Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has until April 27,
2000 to approve the 1999 MAG Serious Area Carbon Monoxide Plan.
The Plan includes 56 committed measures from the state and local
governments to help prevent future exceedances. In addition, the
Plan points out that there have been no exceedances of the federal
standards for carbon monoxide in nearly three years.
For more information, contact Lindy
Bauer, MAG Environmental Services Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Particulate Sanctions Lifted Soon?
The EPA could lift restrictions for major producers of dust and
other particulates by early April, when the agency is expected
to approve the 1999 MAG Serious Area Particulate Plan for PM-10.
Currently, industries such as power plants and sand-and-gravel
operations are prohibited from starting up or expanding unless
they can reduce their emissions by two pounds for every pound
created.
MAG submitted the strengthened particulate plan on December 23, 1999, after being notified in November that the EPA wasn’t satisfied with the 1999 MAG Serious Area Particulate Plan for PM-10 (particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter). Should the EPA fail to approve the revised plan by September 2, a second set of restrictions — loss of federal highway funds resulting in a conformity lapse — would occur.
Recently, the EPA sent a letter to Maricopa County raising
concerns with the County’s new draft enforcement policy for
dust control rules. It is anticipated that the County will be
addressing these issues in order to satisfy EPA’s concerns.
For more information, contact Lindy
Bauer, MAG Environmental Services Manager, (602) 254-6300.
National Expert on Domestic Violence Provides Regional Training
Sarah Buel, a national expert on Domestic Violence, visited the
Valley March 22nd to provide training and advice to the MAG Domestic
Violence Council. Buel, who has over 20 years experience working
with battered women and establishing award-winning programs across
the country, discussed the elements of successful regional domestic
violence councils.
The MAG Domestic Violence Council represents the largest domestic
violence coordination effort in the country. The 50-member council
is made up of domestic violence service providers, elected officials,
business leaders, victim advocates, medical providers, foundations
and members of the faith-based community. Their task is to oversee
the implementation of 41 recommendations contained in the MAG
Regional Domestic Violence Plan.
For more information, contact Carol
Kratz, MAG Human Services Manager, (602) 254-6300.
Make Your Reservations
MAG is currently accepting registration for a statewide forum
on alternative fuels. “Arizona Alternatives: Clean Fuels
for Clean Cities” will be held on April 25, 2000 at the Mesa
Community and Conference Center.
The forum is designed to promote, celebrate and showcase alternative fuel programs. The first-ever statewide forum will recognize the achievements of stakeholders in supporting and encouraging the use of alternative fuels. The forum will also provide a chance for citizens to learn more about the benefits of driving an alternative fuel vehicle.
The forum will feature discussions aimed at alternative fuel
providers, fleet managers, Clean Cities stakeholders and other
decision makers. Information booths and displays will help teach
the motoring public more about alternative fuels and how they
can be used. One display will feature a ‘ride and drive’
where participants can drive or be driven in a variety of alternative
fuel and advanced technology vehicles. The cost is $95. Registration
forms are due by April 7, 2000.
For more information, contact Anne
MacCracken, Clean Cities Planner, (602) 254-6300.
Next Regional Council Meeting
The next Regional Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April
26, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. at the MAG offices, 302 N. 1st Ave., Suite
200. Agenda items will include the Desert Spaces Implementation
Task Force and Environmentally Sensitive Development Standards.
The Desert Spaces Task Force was established by the Regional Council
in 1996 to develop strategies to implement the regional open space
plan. The task force has worked since that time to develop two
products: recommendations for implementation of the plan and environmentally
sensitive development standards. Additional agenda items are pending.
For more information, contact Dennis
Smith, MAG Assistant Director, (602) 254-6300.