Newsroom | The Region Rundown, September 2026

MAG News

Public participation is crucial to the transportation planning process. MAG has made it easier to find opportunities to participate by creating a searchable dashboard of transportation studies. You can search by study type and location, and find studies currently accepting public comments.

The following are three things you should know about what’s happening in the MAG region:

1. One-Stop Shop for Input

Image of a map for improvement transporation

Public participation is crucial to the transportation planning process. MAG has made it easier to find opportunities to participate by creating a searchable dashboard of transportation studies.

You can search by study type and location, and find studies currently accepting public comments.

    View Transportation Studies

2. Your Commute Could Be Worse

Image of a map with a highlighted section

Our region is growing fast—and keeping traffic delays in check better than most peers!

   

    Since the 1980s, the percentage increase in time lost to traffic per commuter has been lower in our region than in 97 of the 101 urban areas studied, despite our significant population growth.

   

    Only Dallas, Houston and Detroit beat us. While Detroit has experienced a significant population decline, the state of Texas has made substantially larger transportation investments, benefiting Dallas and Houston. Overall, this is a great success story for our regionally funded freeway system.

      

Learn more about traffic trends to see what’s happening on roads across the region.

   

       View Regional Traffic and Travel Trends Charts   

3. Support to Address Affordable Rents and Mortgages

    The Bridges to HOME program, supported by a JPMorgan Chase grant, helps local governments, tribal communities and nonprofit organizations address affordable housing challenges across the Phoenix metropolitan area.

   

    Applications are now open for customized technical assistance to advance opportunities in housing planning, development, preservation, financing, partnerships and organizational capacity.

       

Visit the Bridges to HOME webpage to learn more and submit an application by Wednesday, September 30.

4. Northeast Valley Transportation Study

MAG is partnering with Phoenix and Scottsdale on the Northeast Valley Transportation Study to address growing traffic and future transportation needs. The study will identify near- and long-term improvements, including better access to Loop 101 and connections that support continued growth. Help shape the recommendations by visiting the study webpage, leaving a comment on the interactive map, and signing up to receive updates.

    Leave a Comment on the Study Map

Photo of the Month

Image of Arizona's fabled Superstition Mountain

A school bus full of students heads home after a field trip to Arizona's fabled Superstition Mountain, which is visible in the background.

Published September 21, 2026