With eye-watering numbers of emails sent via 347Facts.com, there’s no question Arizona’s legislators know Maricopa’s traffic woes.
The informational website hit a major milestone recently by sending more emails about State Route 347 to the state’s lawmakers, Arizona State Transportation Board members and Pinal County supervisors than there are people living in Maricopa.
“We’ve actually surpassed the 100,000 mark, approaching 120,000 emails sent to lawmakers and ADOT officials,” website manager James Singleton said Tuesday. “Nearly 1,500 Maricopa residents have submitted contact forms expressing support for SR 347 widening and bills HB 2557 and SB 1617.”
Bill Robertson, one of a baker’s dozen 347Facts.com committeemen who also serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, said he hopes community members continue sending emails.
“We need to keep the pressure on,” he said. “The push right now is to make sure [Maricopa is] tentatively in the five-year plan.”
That’s because state transportation board members vote on the plan in two months, which outlines the department’s top transportation construction projects.
Currently, widening 13 miles of SR 347 from the Interstate 10 overpass to city limits is listed as an “illustrative project,” meaning it could be a candidate for the plan if it gains more funding.
Elected officials have so far been working to bring in additional funding, including $20 million pledged from Pinal County and a push for $16.2 million from the state general budget through House Bill 2557, one of the bills Singleton identified Maricopans as supporting.
“The impact is already evident,” Singleton said. “Lawmakers have indicated they’re motivated to address the road issues, partly to resolve the legitimate concerns and partly to manage the unprecedented volume of constituent communications.”
Robertson agreed, stating it’s not too late for residents to send emails.
“Anybody wishing to assist should go to the website and send a comment related to the five-year plan,” he said.
