| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kelly Taft
Communications Manager
(602) 452-5020 Transportation Public MeetingPHOENIX (October 6, 2009) – Members of the public are encouraged to attend a Transportation Public Meeting that seeks citizen response to ideas being proposed for closing a projected $6.6 billion transportation funding gap for the highway portion of the Regional Transportation Plan. Due to declining sales tax revenues, the MAG Transportation Policy Committee will be considering potential changes to the 20-year Regional Transportation Plan. Affected projects could include freeway and transit projects currently funded through the half-cent sales tax. Residents are invited to attend a transportation public meeting being held jointly by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), the Arizona Department of Transportation and Valley Metro. An update on ideas for closing the funding gap and potential changes to the plan will be provided. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at the MAG offices, 302 N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix. The meeting will be held on the second floor, Suite 200, Saguaro Room. Residents are encouraged to provide input on the proposed changes in advance of committee action scheduled later in October. The meeting will include presentations on the following: Status of the MAG Regional Transportation Plan 2010 Update and the MAG FY 2011-2015 - Transportation Improvement Program
- Regional Freeway Program Update
- Regional Transit Program Update
Some of the strategies being considered to address the budget shortfall include management strategies, value engineering and project deferrals. If all these strategies are adopted, the overall cost of the Regional Freeway and Highway Program would decrease from $15.95 million to $9.4 billion, bringing the program back into balance. For more information about the meeting or to arrange special disability accommodations, please contact Jason Stephens, MAG public involvement planner, at (602) 452-5004. Parking in the garage below the MAG building will be validated, and transit tickets will be provided to those who use transit to attend the meeting. To provide input via e-mail, send comments to jstephens@mag.maricopa.gov. Presentations to be shown at the public meeting include the following: For media inquiries, please contact Kelly Taft, MAG Communications Manager, at (602) 452-5020. # # # | 
