AASHTO Journal - Arizona DOT Proposes $12.7B Construction Program

The Arizona Department of Transportation recently proposed a five-year $12.7 billion transportation facilities construction program that includes everything from pavement preservation projects to highway safety initiatives.

[Above photo by the Arizona DOT]

The agency said in a statement its proposed five-year program provides $2.8 billion of that will go towards preserving, rehabilitating, and replacing roadway pavement and bridges, with a further $592 million funding “highway safety, efficiency and functionality projects,” such as intersection improvements, updates to ports of entry and rest areas, smart technologies and adding signals, signs and shoulders.

An additional $4.47 billion will fund transportation projects throughout greater Arizona, which encompasses areas outside of Maricopa and Pima counties. That includes $1.05 billion to widen highways or improve interchanges.

Arizona DOT added that both the Maricopa and Pima county regions have dedicated, voter-approved sales taxes for transportation that help fund such highway expansion projects.

The program also includes $135 million for the agency’s Airport Capital Improvement Program, which provides funding in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration for projects to design and construct safety, security and capacity enhancements, prepare various plans and studies, and fund improvements at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, which Arizona DOT operates.

The agency noted that overall funding for this statewide construction program comes from both federal and state dollars, as well as from money generated by users of transportation services in Arizona – primarily through gasoline and diesel fuel taxes, the Arizona vehicle license tax and various aviation taxes.

The agency noted that the public comment period for its proposed five-year transportation program closes on May 23, with the State Transportation Board expected to consider formal action on that program at its June 20 meeting.