MAG News

When Maricopa County voters approved Proposition 479, they placed their trust in us to deliver a transportation system that improves their lives. They expect less time in traffic, safer roads and reliable connections to the places they need to go. As I begin my term as Chair of the MAG Regional Council, my commitment is clear: we will keep the promises we made to voters.

As mayor of Buckeye, I understand what is at stake. Congestion on Interstate 10 affects when people get home to their families and how businesses move goods across our region. Communities throughout the Valley face similar challenges. Voters supported Prop 479 because we presented a plan to address those needs. Now, we have a responsibility to follow through.

That work is underway. Construction at the I-17/Loop 303 interchange, the first Prop 479 project to break ground, will provide direct freeway connections and add lanes on Loop 303 between Lake Pleasant Parkway and I-17. These improvements will help accommodate growing travel demands in the northern Valley, driven by the rapid expansion of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).  

In the West Valley, the Prop 479-funded interchange improvements at I-10 and Jackrabbit Trail are under construction to improve access and traffic flow. Alongside that work, the I-10 widening project between State Route 85 and Citrus Road has completed design and will add much-needed capacity along this critical corridor serving residents, commuters and regional commerce.

In the East Valley, State Route 24 improvements between Loop 202 and Ironwood Drive are approaching construction. Additional lanes, new bridges over cross streets and interchange improvements will help this corridor serve the communities growing around it.

Looking ahead, State Route 30 will provide an essential alternative to I-10 through the southwest Valley. Design is progressing on the section between Loop 303 and Loop 202, with construction planned in phases, beginning at 97th Avenue and extending to Loop 202. Delivering this new freeway will be critical to providing lasting congestion relief and supporting the region’s economy.

Each of these projects carries an obligation to the people paying for it. Responsible stewardship means keeping projects on schedule, managing costs and addressing obstacles before they become delays. It also means giving residents clear information about what is being built, when they can expect it and how their investment is being used.

We should also continually look for opportunities to move projects forward more efficiently, expedite construction where possible and take advantage of opportunities that can deliver transportation improvements sooner. Proposition 479, combined with other state and federal funding, represents a $28 billion regional transportation program over the next 20 years. We have an opportunity today that did not exist before voters renewed this investment, and we cannot let that opportunity pass us by.

As Chair, I will work with my fellow Regional Council members and our implementing partners to keep efficient project delivery at the center of our decisions. The regional cooperation that secured voter support must now carry these projects through to completion. While we’re only at the beginning of a 20-year program, our residents need to see steady progress and experience the benefits of our planned investments in their daily travel.

Together, we can honor that trust by making steady progress on the transportation improvements our communities are counting on.

Prop 479 Projects