The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has released its Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program for 2027-2031, outlining $9.85 billion in planned improvements and expansions to the state’s highways and transportation infrastructure. The program is open for public comment until May 22.
The plan dedicates $4.1 billion to projects in Greater Arizona, which excludes Maricopa and Pima counties. This includes $2.7 billion for preserving, rehabilitating, and replacing pavement and bridges; $431 million to expand highway capacity; and $939 million aimed at improving highway safety, efficiency, and functionality through intersection upgrades, enhancements at ports of entry and rest areas, smart technologies, signals, signs, and shoulder additions.
ADOT is encouraging public input on the tentative program via an online form, email, phone, mail, or during a public hearing scheduled for May 15 in Cameron. Details about the hearing are available at aztransportationboard.gov. The agency has also introduced a searchable project dashboard where users can find information by highway number or project name.
Specific projects in Greater Arizona include $83 million to widen SR 260 east of Payson (Lion Springs segment), $82 million to widen US 93 at Big Jim Wash between Wickenburg and Wikieup, and $86 million to widen SR 347 south of Phoenix in Pinal County.
In Maricopa County, the plan sets aside $2.04 billion for projects developed with the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). These funds will be augmented by revenue from Proposition 479 approved by voters in 2024. However, specific projects have not yet been identified as MAG continues updating revenue projections and project sequencing.
For Pima County, the program allocates $615 million in partnership with the Pima Association of Governments (PAG). PAG is currently working on RTA Next—a ballot initiative designed to extend a half-cent sales tax set to expire soon. Project details will be updated after new forecasts are completed later this spring or summer.
An additional $178 million is designated for the Airport Capital Improvement Program in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration. This funding will support safety and capacity improvements at airports including Grand Canyon Airport.
Funding sources for these statewide initiatives include federal grants, state appropriations, gasoline and diesel fuel taxes, vehicle license taxes, aviation taxes, as well as dedicated sales taxes in Maricopa and Pima counties approved by voters for transportation expansion projects.
ADOT’s five-year program results from coordination among regional planning organizations such as MAG and PAG—as well as local governments and tribal partners—to prioritize ready-to-build or design projects across Arizona’s multiple districts (source). The department manages facilities like rest areas and snowplow operations using specialized equipment while monitoring highways through cameras (source). It also aims to safely connect people throughout Arizona while supporting economic growth (source).
Jennifer Toth serves as ADOT director overseeing planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of transportation systems statewide (source). The agency works alongside regional entities on corridor studies and traveler information systems (source), offers updates via AZ 511 system along with motor vehicle services (source), oversees construction activities at airports such as Grand Canyon National Airport down to southern border ports (source).
The State Transportation Board expects to consider formal action on the final program during its June 19 meeting.
