Faced with a $6.6 billion highway funding deficit and a $1.7 billion bus and light-rail money shortfall, the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Arizona Department of Transportation and Valley Metro met Tuesday night to get the public’s feedback on proposed changes to a 20-year Maricopa County regional transportation plan to close the gap.

The Maricopa Association of Governments has an opportunity today to correct several serious flaws in its 20-year transportation plan for the Valley. With so much at stake — $17.1 billion and our ability to get around — it is imperative that MAG's Transportation Policy Committee eliminate the defects when it meets today to approve the plan.

Maricopa Association of Governments, Arizona Department of Transportation and Valley Metro are holding a public presentation Tuesday to get feedback on proposed changes to a 20-year regional transportation plan to close a $6.6 billion highway funding gap. The changes would affect freeway and transit projects, using money from a voter-approved half-cent sales tax.

WASHINGTON - Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who helped rebuild confidence in U.S. airports and flying after the Sept. 11 attacks, said Friday he's leaving the Bush administration.

Nov. 3, 2004

As transportation officials struggle to develop the region's infrastructure in a dismal economy, civic leaders are splitting along a familiar fault line: East Valley vs. Westside.

PHOENIX - Business leaders and others are putting the final touches on a proposed ballot measure that would increase the state's sales tax by a penny to raise billions of dollars for transportation projects, a leader of the effort said Monday.

Ten years after a meeting between county, state and intra-governmental agencies set the tone for state spending in transportation, Casa Grande plays host to what has become the Rural Transportation Summit.

Regional leaders will ask the public what mix of freeways, buses, trains and more should be part of a proposal to extend the half-cent sales tax for transportation.

Improvements to Grand Avenue that would alleviate traffic in and out of Surprise, while also providing enhanced economic development by attracting jobs to the city, is among the goals of the two mayoral candidates.

November 29, 2004

Trouble emerged Tuesday for the Valley’s regional transportation tax, as a legislative committee approved two opposing bills to send the measure to voters.

Efforts to extend Maricopa County's half-cent sales tax for transportation appeared on the brink of collapse Monday night as a handful of Republican senators continued to block the leading plan backed by Valley mayors.

The Legislature has approved the process for creating a 20-year transportation plan for Maricopa County before voters are asked next year to continue a half-cent sales tax.

Given the $15.8 billion pricetag, differences in local priorities and strong opinions about light rail, it’s not surprising that legislators are indulging in a bit of brinkmanship over the Valley’s proposed 20-year transportation package.

Three paths emerged for the Valley’s $15.8 billion transportation plan at the Legislature, where lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled a trio of competing bills on how to deal with the lightning rod issue of light rail.

Gov. Jan Brewer announced that former Congressman Jim Kolbe will serve as co-chairman of the Arizona Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance. In February, the governor announced the formation of the panel comprised of statewide and local experts in transportation, international trade and energy.

Lame-duck Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza's foolish ultimatum to the Legislature to rubber stamp the flawed Valley transportation plan or the Big City will pull out should be viewed as an opportunity to do the right thing by those who really count — taxpayers.

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Transportation approved legislation Monday designed to legitimize the 70 digital billboards in the state and pave the way for more.

The Regional Public Transportation Authority is forming an advisory committee and seeking more comments — and complaints — about Dial-A-Ride in the East Valley.

The Regional Public Transportation Authority is forming an advisory committee and seeking more comments — and complaints — about Dial-A-Ride in the East Valley.

A legislative committee on Monday called for a safety study of Loop 101 in response to pleading parents of crash victims who say the freeway is a deathtrap.

A Queen Creek committee decided it doesn't want a controversial raised median that blocks access to homes on Ocotillo Road. Now it's up to the Town Council to decide whether the traffic-control device will remain.

The House Transportation Committee unanimously endorsed a bill Thursday that would require children under 8 years old to ride in booster seats.