GOVERNMENT
THE POLITICS OF HIGHWAY SPENDING
Last month, Gov. Katie Hobbs released her proposed state budget, where, to make up for a nearly $1 billion deficit, she suggested a laundry list of transportation cuts worth $420 million. That included cutting $25 million for the Riggs Road overpass on State Route 347 that was allocated in 2021. With a broad brush, Hobbs described all those transportation projects, including Riggs Road, as “wasteful taxpayer spending.” Ironically, Hobbs sent a personalized video message to the Maricopa Chamber of commerce just a month earlier, taking credit for securing the money that would improve traffic and safety on SR 347. Teresa Martinez (R-Casa Grande), one of Maricopa’s state representatives and the House vice chair of the Arizona House Transportation Committee, felt the statement is an example of how out of touch Hobbs is with average Arizonans. “I think she has clearly never been on SR 347 and has no intention of ever using that road,” Martinez said. “I believe that she’s chauffeured around and the roads that aren’t wasteful taxpayer spending are the ones she uses.” Tens of thousands of Maricopans commute daily on SR 347 to and from the Valley, making it one of the busiest and most congested highways in the state. Last summer, the Arizona Department of Transportation released its safety study of SR 347. Between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2022, there were 967 crashes, or one every other day.
Of those crashes, 21 resulted in serious injuries and 15 in death. According to the same ADOT study, the Riggs Road intersection had the fourth- highest number of collisions at a signalized intersection on a state highway in Arizona. Making the daily drive a little easier to stomach was the promise that one day there would be an overpass at Riggs Road instead of a stoplight, a major safety improvement — but now the project is in jeopardy. Martinez feels politics shouldn’t play a role in road safety. “It’s disgraceful,” Martinez said. “These roads are peoples’ lives. I lost my father on these roads. An 11-year-old girl died last year on 347. We’ve had people die on roads, not only in Pinal County but all over the state. I think it’s horrendous and it’s completely below human dignity.” The Riggs Road overpass project has served as the anchor project in a line of planned improvements for SR 347. Rep. Bret Roberts (R-Maricopa) secured $35
million in state funds for the overpass before he moved to South Carolina in 2021. Immediately after the signing of the bill, $10 million of that money went to ADOT for design and environmental impact studies. When Roberts left, Martinez was tapped as his replacement and won re- election the following year. Martinez asked ADOT Director Jennifer Toth for an update on the project’s
“They’re bureaucrats,” Martinez said. “They’ll tell you, ‘Oh you know, it takes six months for a survey.’ When month seven comes around, I follow up wanting to know the progress and they say, ‘You know, we haven’t gotten that yet. Someone should send an email.’ And then two weeks later, another email is sent and the next thing you know, it’s been a year.” Despite the fact a bill was signed into law and the money allocated, Martinez feared it would be a target. “It was just sitting there,” Martinez said. “That’s why I’m asking ADOT, ‘Why does it take two years to get a contractor? Why is that road not already being built? Roberts got the money for the Riggs Road overpass, but Martinez has taken on the job of guarding those funds and making sure they end up helping the tens of thousands of motorists who travel on SR 347 each day. “I would never take credit for the work that Bret Roberts did, but once he’s gone, no one cares?” Martinez said.
progress at a January hearing to review the
department’s Performance Audit and Sunset Review. Toth explained the Riggs Road overpass project is at the end of the design concept report and environmental assessment. The project is scheduled to advertise for construction in 2026 with construction beginning in late 2026 or early 2027, with it opening for traffic in 2028. Martinez feels ADOT’s deliberate nature has landed the Riggs Road overpass, and other projects concerning SR 347 in this precarious position.
InMaricopa.com | February 2024
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