Transportation Policy

Building and maintaining transportation infrastructure is a core function of government and one that NAIOP Arizona strongly supports.
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Our members require a modern, efficient transportation system to move freight and people. Distribution centers and manufacturing facilities must move their goods out to market quickly. For office projects, retail establishments, and multifamily housing to be successful, people must be able to move efficiently between work and home and to shopping and entertainment.
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NAIOP Arizona is on the front lines representing our members in the major debates over transportation.

Proposition 400 – Maricopa County Sales Tax for Transportation
Proposition 400 was passed by Maricopa County voters in November 2004 and authorized a 20-year half-cent sales tax for transportation projects throughout the county. As we approach the expiration of this dedicated tax, stakeholders are meeting regularly at the state legislature to hammer out a proposal that can be sent to the voters. Former Governor Doug Ducey vetoed a proposal last year, so there is a renewed sense of urgency to craft a revised bill that can pass through the legislature and get signed by Governor Katie Hobbs.

At issue is how much funding should be allocated to light rail and other transit projects relative to funding for highways and arterial roads. Other key topics are how much flexibility to provide the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) to fund unidentified projects in the outyears and how to ensure high priority projects are expedited. ​

​State Route 30
SR 30, the Tres Rios Freeway, is critical to the West Valley, especially to NAIOP’s members developing industrial projects in this area. The purpose is to ease traffic congestion by increasing the east-to-west freeway capacity with a supplemental transportation link to I-10.
 
As planned, SR 30 is divided into three segments: West (SR 85 to Loop 303), Center (Loop 303 to Loop 202), and East (Loop 202 to I-17). Of these, the Center section is the farthest along with significant planning, scoping, environmental, utility, and right-of-way work completed. Unfortunately, under current plans, the entire project would not be completed until 2050. NAIOP, along with other business stakeholders, is pushing to dramatically speed up this critical project. 

Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) 5-Year Construction Program

ADOT is accepting input on its Tentative Five-Year Construction Program covering 2024-2028. NAIOP will be participating in this process by submitting formal comments and attending the hearing of the State Board of Transportation on May 19.

The proposed $7.7 billion statewide program includes an investment of $2.6 billion in pavement and bridge preservation projects and allocates $669 million to widen highways and improve interchanges. Included in this is the Maricopa County Regional Transportation Plan Freeway Program (RTPFP), which is funded by a combination of Prop 400 monies, ADOT funds, and federal highway funds.  The RTPFP includes new freeway corridors to serve growth in the region and improvements to the existing system of freeways and highways to reduce current and future congestion and improve safety.
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Also included in the Tentative Five-Year Plan are the Pima County Regional Transportation Authority Highway Program and the Airport Development Program.