The Arizona Department of Transportation announced on May 6 that it will hold a public hearing on Friday, May 15, regarding its recommended statewide program and construction projects for the next five years.
The hearing will address the tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program for 2027-2031. Members of the public can attend virtually at aztransportationboard.gov or in person at the Cameron Chapter House located on US 89 in Cameron. Those wishing to comment remotely must request to do so by 8 a.m. on the day of the hearing, following instructions provided online.
The proposed program allocates $4.1 billion for projects throughout Greater Arizona, outside Maricopa and Pima counties. Of this amount, $2.7 billion is designated for preserving, rehabilitating, and replacing pavement and bridges; $431 million is set aside to expand highway capacity; and $939 million is allocated to improve highway safety and efficiency through intersection improvements, updates to ports of entry and rest areas, smart technologies, signals, signs, and shoulders.
Specific capacity expansion projects include $83 million to widen State Route 260 east of Payson (Lion Springs segment), $82 million for widening US 93 at Big Jim Wash between Wickenburg and Wikieup, and $86 million for widening SR 347 south of Phoenix in Pinal County. In Maricopa County, $2.04 billion is planned in conjunction with the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), supplemented by funds from Proposition 479 approved by voters in 2024. Project details are pending as MAG finalizes revenue projections and project sequencing later this spring or summer.
In Pima County, $615 million is allocated for collaborative projects with the Pima Association of Governments (PAG). Following approval of a ballot initiative extending a half-cent sales tax in March 2026 to fund transportation improvements, PAG will update its Transportation Improvement Program with new forecasts expected later this spring or summer.
Additionally, $178 million will support airport capital improvements alongside funding from the Federal Aviation Administration—covering safety enhancements at airports including Grand Canyon Airport operated by ADOT.
Funding sources include federal grants; state dollars; user-generated revenues such as gasoline taxes; vehicle license taxes; aviation taxes; plus dedicated sales taxes approved by voters in both Maricopa and Pima counties. The five-year plan results from collaboration among local governments, regional planning organizations and tribal partners who help prioritize ready-to-build or design projects.According to the official website, Arizona Department of Transportation manages facilities such as rest areas using specialized equipment like snowplows equipped with cameras while supporting traveler information systems across multiple districts statewide—including Grand Canyon National Airport operations—and working closely with various partners on corridor studies.
A searchable project dashboard is available at azdot.gov/5yeardashboard allowing users to find specific projects by highway number or name. The public comment period ends at 5 p.m., Friday May 22. The State Transportation Board expects to consider formal action on June 19 after reviewing all feedback submitted via online form (azdot.gov/5yearcomments), email ([email protected]), phone (855-712-8530) or mail addressed to Nancy Becerra c/o ADOT Communications.
