MAG News

Billions of dollars have been invested in transportation infrastructure through the half-cent sales tax for transportation known as Proposition 400. Not only is that infrastructure making our regional travel easier and safer, it also is attracting new business investment that is critical to our economy.

“Networks across the country, and specifically here in Maricopa County, are the bedrock of our ability to bring jobs and investment here,” says Greater Phoenix Economic Council President and CEO Chris Camacho. “If you look at core arterials, if you look at the (Loop) 101, 202, and 303 corridors, they precipitated our ability to plan future employment corridors that are now riddled with major corporation names.”

Camacho sat down with MAG Executive Director Eric Anderson as part of inaugural segment of “MAG Matters,” a new video series that explores current and important topics related to MAG, our member agencies and the region.

During the five-minute interview, Camacho discusses how new corridors like the Loop 303 have attracted billions of dollars of private investment from companies like the Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC), a global leader in the semiconductor industry.

Camacho says that spotlighting the region’s robust transportation system is part of GPEC’s pro-business strategies that focus on job creation. Corridors like the Loop 303 and Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) are especially attractive for robust business development.

“We’re talking about highways, job creation, advanced manufacturing locations along that 303,” he says. “That entire corridor connection from I-10 to I-17 is an entirely new corridor for industrial development and in addition to that, when I look at [Loop] 202, I’m sure in five years we’ll be saying, ‘look at all the development that occurred.”

Camacho says the Valley continues to be one of the hottest new job markets in the nation. GPEC is currently working with more than 250 companies from around the globe on development activity, he says the region’s transportation network is viewed very favorably and is known for being one of the least traffic-congested markets in the nation.

However, Camacho says we must continue to maintain our edge to compete with other regions who are investing heavily in transportation.  

“We have to take into account we need future infrastructure investments to continue to expand as we’re looking at getting people east to west across our region,” says Camacho. “I don’t take that for granted, our clients don’t take that for granted, but I think it’s really important that we ensure that we maintain our focus in investing in critical, modern infrastructure. That’s what will continue to separate ourselves from these other places that are doing the same.”

For a look at the next generation of transportation investments planned by MAG, visit ourmomentumplan.com.