PINAL COUNTY LAWMAKERS PRAISE GOVERNOR’S PUSH FOR TRANSPORTATION
By GRAYSON STEINBERG
Cronkite News Service
PHOENIX (Monday, Jan. 14) _ A statewide transportation plan pushed by Gov. Janet Napolitano would help ease congestion that is making commutes longer and longer for Pinal County residents, lawmakers from that area said Monday.
During her annual State of the State address, the governor asked legislators to devise a transportation plan to deal with Arizona’s explosive growth and refer it to the ballot for this year or next. Napolitano said the plan should include a high-speed rail line between Phoenix and Tucson.
“Transportation remains the biggest obstacle for families out there,” said Sen. Rebecca Rios, D-Hayden. “They’re literally spending their dinnertime on the road.”
Across Pinal County, workers commuting to Phoenix or Tucson face one-way drives that sometimes last up to two hours due to heavy congestion on freeways and surface streets, legislators said. Some towns only have one main road in and out.
A statewide transportation plan would likely fund new projects, some of which would run through Pinal County, said Rep. Pete Rios, D-Hayden.
The initiative might result in increased taxes, but Pinal County voters frustrated with long commutes would likely support it, he said.
“I get cornered by my constituents all the time,” he added. “People are saying, ‘You gotta help’”
Rep. Barbara McGuire, D-Kearny, said she supports a rail line as a way to both reduce congestion and spur economic development in rural towns where the train could stop.
The three lawmakers also supported Napolitano’s contention that critical programs shouldn’t be cut despite a looming budget deficit.
“The small communities of Pinal County stand to lose a lot if we do massive budget cuts,” Rebecca Rios said.
The lawmakers said they are pleased the governor remains committed to improving both primary and higher education.
In comparison to urban areas, the rural communities of Pinal County don’t have enough schools or hospitals to meet the demands of its growing population, the legislators said.
McGuire said she especially likes the governor’s idea of awarding free college tuition to all students who maintain a B average throughout high school.
It would allow rural children to “get college degrees so they have the same opportunities as urban kids,” she said.