By Dan Frank
Recently, a candidate for City Council published a response to my Aug. 8 article regarding SR 347 and the proposed RTA. As a civil engineer with over 20 years of experience working on drainage and transportation projects, I want to provide additional facts and figures about this priority issue.
The response referenced the Maricopa Area Transportation Plan – Phase 1. However, a more recent document was completed and published in December 2015. This document is called the Maricopa Area Transportation Plan – Transportation Master Plan & Regional Connectivity Plan (Final Report). This Final Report affirms the need for a Corridor Study before attempting to fund and/or implement solutions for a project of this scope. According to that document, “Additional analysis and engineering studies will be need to be accomplished prior to any final decision regarding improvements…Other solutions may prove to be more feasible and should be tested.”
The City of Maricopa also recognizes the importance of following a logical approach and has already placed the Corridor Study in the City Work Plan for FY 2016-17, stating that “…improvements to SR 347 require detailed study to determine the feasibility of improvements and identification of the most efficient consensus-based solution.” The Work Plan also addresses the possible cost of the study, indicating a plan to seek assistance from MAG (Maricopa Association of Governments) to lead and fund the Corridor Study.
MAG will be an important partner with any proposed solution for the SR 347. The RTA will only fund the project up to the County line. That does not address the intersection at Riggs or the Interchange at I-10, two of the most critical choke points. It makes no sense building to the county line and stopping. We need a comprehensive solution for the whole corridor and partnering with MAG will help drive that solution.
Below is a table from the SR 347 Corridor Assessment (Appendix H of the Final Report) which identifies a timeline for execution of future roadway improvements. These documents are readily available from the City.
My focus as a member of City Council will be to utilize and leverage my 20+ years of experience in civil engineering to identify solutions. I know the right people, I have actual experience with this type of project, and I understand the process.
As your elected representative I will work hard to make sure we’re doing things right, but also doing the right things. I humbly ask for your vote to help Maricopa. Thank you.
Dan Frank is a candidate for Maricopa City Council.
