As usual, Maricopans stood up to speak for State Route 347.

A handful of residents were joined by Maricopa and Pinal County politicians this morning at an Arizona State Transportation Board meeting in Yuma.

Their goal? Asking for the state highway to be added to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s five-year construction program.

The advocates spoke about statistics and safety issues. Pinal County Supervisor Rich Vitiello (R-Maricopa) introduced that board’s new plan to commit $20 million, something he thinks wowed the transportation board.

“I got a big smile out of them. It was a small wow factor,” Vitiello said of the meeting. “I’m hoping it puts them over the edge to put us in the five-year plan.”

Maricopa City Councilmember Vincent Manfredi was also among the attendees and noted the participation of “normal, hardworking” citizens was crucial for the board to see.

“It was really cool having what felt like more than half the public comments being in support of SR 347. Having three or four normal, hardworking Maricopa residents showing up was amazing,” he said. “What it shows is that local participation and contribution is important.”

The state board identified trends in the public comments made on the five-year plan.

A total of 165 comments were submitted regarding widening SR 347 between Maricopa and Interstate 10. That’s 432% more comments than those left for widening portions of I-10 and 1,000% more comments than those made for widening I-17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff.

Earlier this month, the number of emails sent to state representatives left such an impression they passed House Bill 2557, which will bring an additional $16.2 million to widen the highway.

Vincent Manfredi is an owner of InMaricopa.