City, county leaders call for 347 funding

As Gov. Katie Hobbs tries to claw back $67 million in funding for the only highway linking Maricopa to the rest of metro Phoenix, city and county leaders advocated to keep State Route 347 funding during an Arizona State Transportation Board meeting last week.

During a call to the public, leaders requested the board add the state highway to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s five-year budget plan.

They also repeatedly referred to a road safety assessment released last year, which showed SR 347 had nearly 1,000 crashes in a five-year period. That amounted to nearly one crash every other day.

This was the second time this year local leaders called on the state to fund improvements for SR 347. They previously made pleas during a January meeting at Maricopa City Hall.

Here are a few highlights from each speaker:

Mayor Nancy Smith

“We need unwavering commitment by the state to [SR 347]. We have been faithfully telling ADOT of this problem for the last 16-plus years.

Now, we’re at a dangerous safety level as told by an ADOT [road safety assessment]. We need 347 fully in the five-year plan this budget season.”

Councilmember Eric Goettl

“I’m asking the board to fast track the necessary studies and design work so as [not] to encumber the already raised $84 million that’s being threatened by the state budget shortfalls.

We urge the consideration of the board to include the 347 improvements in the five-year plan and that needs to be done this session.”

Councilmember Vincent Manfredi

“I ask today as a husband and father whose wife and three daughters travel on the 347 as well as other roads around Maricopa: As a parent, you worry every day when your daughters get on 347, and the improvements that need to be done aren’t getting done.”

Councilmember Rich Vitiello

“We need to continue supporting the 347 because I want to make sure the residents of Maricopa are able to leave the city and get home safe every night.”

Pinal County Supervisor Jeffrey McClure, District 4

SR 347 is “a vital lifeline to the city of Maricopa’s growth. It has become a dangerous roadway as evidenced by the recent road safety assessment and it needs to be widened from four to six lanes as soon as possible.”

Pinal County Supervisor Mike Goodman, District 2

“According to the studies that ADOT has done, there’s been almost 1,000 accidents on this stretch of highway. The Riggs intersection is the fourth-most dangerous controlled intersection on a state highway.

We have been on an extreme growth pattern the last number of years…and we have a tremendous need for transportation in the region.”

Vincent Manfredi is an owner of InMaricopa.