Arizona transportation board adopts 2016-2020 plan

The State Transportation Board of Arizona approved the 2016-2020 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program on Friday as part of the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) planning process.

The 2016-2020 plan, like the current one, aims to improve and preserve Arizona’s highway system through preservation, expansion and modernization, as well as advance some high-priority expansion projects.

The board will determine which projects are the most important in Greater Arizona, as well as the Pima and Maricopa County regions. In March, state officials began to finalize these decisions by inviting stakeholders, the public and local governments to participate in three public hearings or to comment online.

“ADOT and its partners are striving to reduce fatalities, increase mobility and improve the economy by balancing infrastructure needs all while using a funding source that continues to erode due to inflation, fuel economy and alternative fuels,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “While fuel economy and alternatives to gasoline are good for the consumer and the environment, necessary expansion and maintenance of our transportation infrastructure is not keeping pace with needs. Appropriate investment is necessary for expansion and maintenance of our infrastructure, not only for safety and efficiency, but also to compete in today's global economy.”