Grand Canyon Times

In Arizona, concerns are rising over the state's aging transportation infrastructure. Senate Transportation Committee Chairman David Farnsworth is seeking funding solutions to address deteriorating pavement conditions on roads and freeways. The aim is to develop future legislation that supports necessary improvement projects for a smoother commute.

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) reports that much of the state's transportation infrastructure outside Phoenix and Tucson was built in the 1960s or earlier. This has resulted in a significant portion of the 28,000 maintenance lane miles managed by ADOT surpassing their service life. Consequently, drivers frequently encounter potholes, bumps, cracks, loose gravel, and other unstable surfaces statewide.

Current funding from state and federal sources only permits repaving about 1% to 2% of all lane miles annually. Thus, surfaces receive rehabilitation every 50 to 100 years. In 2012, nearly 60% of ADOT's road system was classified as "good," but this figure dropped to just 29% by 2022. Maintaining a "good" classification for only 29% of the state's lane miles would require increasing repaving efforts to cover 5% annually at an additional cost of $1 billion.

Senator Farnsworth stated, "Maintaining our transportation system should be a top government function, but this principle has fallen by the wayside for many years." He emphasized the need for policy reforms to enhance funding streams so that Arizona's transportation system can operate effectively.

Kim Quintero serves as Director of Communications for the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus.