Plan targets Pinal County’s transportation future

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The Central Arizona Association of Governments is in the beginning stages of a plan that will define 20 years of transportation projects in Pinal County.

The Pinal County Regional Transportation Plan will take shape during the next three to four years and identify specific transportation projects for completion each year.

“This plan will not only identify roadways, but also mass transit options,” said Jack Tomasik, CAAG regional director of planning.

In forming the plan, CAAG wants to work closely with the cities, towns and citizens of Pinal County to identify the transportation projects needed to move the county forward and help stimulate economic growth.

“We want total involvement in this program by all in Pinal County to create a sense of ownership,” Tomasik said. “This is a bottom-up effort.”

The plan will also incorporate existing transportation plans in the county and those in neighboring counties to ensure transportation connectivity.

In addition to identifying transportation projects, the plan will look at funding options for the projects. Due to the current fiscal climate, Tomasik said those options could include a mix of private and public funds.

One possible funding source is the Arizona Department of Transportation.

“We were informed by the ADOT that if we created this plan they would look upon us favorably when it came time to hand out funding,” Tomasik said.

Tomsaik is in the process of presenting the outline of the plan to municipalities across the county. He is scheduled to host the last of these meeting later this month.

Tomsaik will then meet with the CAAG board of directors to determine the next step in proceeding with the plan, which is being completed with $500,000 of federal funding received through ADOT.