Residents of Maricopa County have voted in favor of continuing a half-cent sales tax, securing funding for transportation projects in the Valley for two more decades. Proposition 479, which was on the ballot Tuesday night, received approximately 60% approval from voters, according to KTAR News. If the measure had failed, the existing tax, a cornerstone in the region’s transit funding since 1985, would have lapsed.
This extension of the half-cent sales tax is projected to raise $15 billion in revenue, which will support an estimated $28 billion in transportation undertakings. Mayor Kevin Hartke of Chandler, who also serves as the chair for the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), relayed the significance of the vote, stating, “It’s a good day for every city in Maricopa County, and the state, that this has passed," in a statement obtained by ABC15 News. The funded projects include the construction of over 300 miles of new highway lanes and the establishment of more than 40 miles of public transit through 2045.
A key infrastructure project anticipated from this funding is the construction of State Route 30, expected to alleviate traffic by providing an alternative route parallel to the congested Interstate 10. John Raeder from the City of Buckeye spoke to ABC15 News on the importance of this project, “Instead of those residents having to travel to the I-10, in the future they can just take SR-30 to get to Phoenix and get back home." Raeder emphasized how crucial the continuation of this funding will be for regions like the West Valley, which has been experiencing rapid growth.
In addition to constructing and improving major highways such as Interstates 10 and 17, the tax revenue will also go towards arterial lane expansions and Bus Rapid Transit development. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, highlighted the broader community benefits by saying, “Phoenicians have made clear once again how vital transportation investments are to their quality of life in the Valley,” according to an interview with KTAR News. Projects will also answer the call for contemporary transit options, support for crucial ADA paratransit services, and road improvements.
