close
close

Proposition 479 Funds Road Improvements Phoenix Needs

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Proposition 479 Funds Road Improvements Phoenix Needs

Proposition 479 was carefully crafted to ensure Maricopa County has a reliable transportation network for decades to come.

Kate Gallego and Pam Kehaly
| opinion writers

play

There are several divisive issues on the ballot this year, but one local proposal has earned the support of elected officials of both parties, as well as business and community leaders, nonprofit and faith leaders and many others: Proposition 479.

This key measure preserves Maricopa County’s existing transportation investments that have made the Valley’s freeway system one of the best in America.

If this fails, the revenue allocated to our infrastructure will disappear. More people will move here, but we won’t have the resources to build new roads or improve and repair existing ones.

This means more gridlock, making it harder for all of us to get to work, to the doctor, and for emergency services to get to their destinations when it matters most.

This is not the future we want for our region.

Proposition 479 would widen and build key highways.

Proposition 479 was carefully crafted and here is what it will support:

  • It would widen State Route 24 in the Southeast Valley and create State Route 30 in the West Valley as an alternative to Interstate 10.
  • It will widen Loop 303 and bring much-needed repairs and expansion to Loop 101, Loop 202 and Interstate 17 throughout the valley.
  • It will also invest in significant improvements to Dial-a-Ride services, which are a lifeline for older people and people with disabilities.

How do we know this will work? Because this has already happened, for almost 40 years.

Opinion: Not sure about these offers? Let us help

County voters first approved the funding stream in 1985 and again in 2004. Since then, he has become a driving force in our regional system, helping create Beltways 101, 202 and 303, as well as State Highway 51.

He even supported the creation of the Valley Metro transit system throughout the county.

Fast commutes are important for quality of life

We have been able to build a broad coalition in support of Proposition 479 because people from all walks of life understand that basic infrastructure is essential to creating a great place to live, raise a family and start a business.

A reliable transportation network ensures that people and goods move quickly and safely, and it is becoming increasingly important for local businesses that employees spend an average commute of less than 30 minutes.

It’s also important to our quality of life—none of us want to wait in even more gridlock to run errands, get to school or the store, and get to work.

Our region continues to grow, but we can keep it a great place to live by building the infrastructure and future we want.

Join us and many others and vote yes on Proposition 479.

Keith Gallego is the mayor of Phoenix. Pam Kehaly is president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and chair of Connect Maricopa. Reach them through X, formerly known as Twitter, @MayorGallego and @PamKehaly.