How Proposition 479 will impact motorists

Proposition 479 allowed for the continuation of a 1/2 cent sales tax in Maricopa County to fund future transportation projects.

John Bullen, Assistant Executive Director at Maricopa Association of Governments, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the impact of Proposition 479 and what types of freeway projects motorists can expect.

The passage of Prop. 479 means state and local agencies will have roughly $15 billion to proceed with a slate of transportation improvement projects over the next 20 years.

“As we see continued growth,” Bullen said, “…we need to continue to build out the network.”

This includes the long-awaited State Route 30, a $5 billion project to relieve congestion along Interstate 10 in the Southwest valley. It will extend from I-17 all the way out to eventually State Route 85.

Prop. 479 will also include optimization projects that will revisit the states investments from the 1990s, to ensure that the infrastructure is up to date and sustainable.

“From a regional planning perspective we take a lot of time, care, consideration to where that growth is gonna occur,” Bullen said. “…where the problems are gonna exist in the future, and to the best extent possible…really try to get those investments out early to try and alleviate some of those problems.”

Proposition 479 took around four years in total to develop and was unaninmously approved by mayors, state representatives, and tribal leaders from around the valley.

“That continued investment is critically important,” Bullen said, “…it allows people to get home quicker, allows people to spend more time with their family, it allows people to access the places that they want to access.”