NEWS July 2008 Let's Keep Moving Transportation Update   Let's Keep Moving! Your E-News Update from the Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman, Chair July Meeting Summary Message from the Chair I am honored to serve as the new chair of the Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) and I would like to thank the Regional Council for its support in selecting me for this position.  I look forward to working with Vice Chair Marie Lopez Rogers and the rest of the TPC in this position. As a charter member of the TPC, it was refreshing for me at our July meeting to see the culmination of some of our earliest policy debate, which led to the inclusion of noise mitigation funding in the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). It was rewarding to hear citizens at the meeting thank the TPC for following through on the commitment made by elected officials to address this issue. We also had a spirited discussion at the meeting regarding the high capacity alternatives being studied for the I-10 corridor that were described in the RTP. I-10 is a corridor of national importance for commerce and is a critical element of the regional transportation system. We need to carefully plan how the corridor is used to meet both the national and regional needs. At the same time the planning for high capacity transit is occurring, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is moving forward with designs for additional freeway lanes as well as conducting the advanced planning for the connection of the South Mountain Freeway to I-10.With rapid growth in the West Valley, we also need to consider how transit service will be provided in the future. The Regional Transit Framework Study, due to be completed in the spring of 2009, will look at how future connections with the I-10 high capacity transit corridor can be made, including the prospect of commuter rail service. It is important for us to provide as many mobility options as possible for our residents. It is an exciting time for the transportation system in the Maricopa region. I am counting on the diligence and cooperation of all TPC members and our stakeholders in addressing these issues. Meeting Summary Noise Barriers Recommended for Approval The TPC recommended approval of noise barriers to be constructed at 11 sites along freeways in the Valley using Proposition 400 noise mitigation funding. All of the sites recommended for funding are within one decibel (A-scale or dBA) of the 64 dBA noise threshold. The cost of constructing all 11 noise barriers is estimated to be $15.6 million, which is within the available funding. The 11 projects include: Phoenix I-17 and Camelback Rd. I-10, 7th Ave to 15th Ave. Loop 101 and 51st Ave. Loop 101 and 7th St. State Route 51 and Greenway Rd. Scottsdale Loop 101 and 90th St. Loop 101 and Cactus Rd. Peoria Loop 101, Peoria Ave. to Grand Ave. Loop 101, Olive Ave. to Peoria Ave. Loop 101, Northern Ave. to Olive Ave. Maricopa County (unincorporated) Loop 303, Deer Valley Rd. to north of Robertson Drive Use of I-10 for High Capacity Transit The Regional Transportation Plan includes a high capacity transit project serving the I-10 west corridor, the Capitol mall area, and connecting with the light rail system in downtown Phoenix. Valley Metro Rail is currently conducting the required Alternatives Analysis (AA) for this project. The AA will result in the selection of a locally preferred alternative that includes the definition of the alignment and technology to be used for the project. The selected technology will likely be light rail or bus rapid transit. The findings of the AA have determined that the alignment may be in the I-10 corridor from approximately the I-10/I-17 interchange and 79th Avenue*. The Environmental Impact Statement for I-10, which was completed in 1977, designated the 50-foot open median of this section of I-10 for possible public transit use. Since the project will utilize space in the corridor for dedicated transit use, Valley Metro Rail requested that MAG recommend the high capacity transit project be located in this section of the I-10 corridor. In addition, the Arizona Department of Transportation asked that the adoption of the locally preferred alternative and the alignment be formalized as quickly as possible as it moves forward on design work on the potential South Mountain freeway connections and additional capacity on I-10.   The TPC recommended adoption of the I-10 freeway right of way, west of I-17, as the Locally Preferred Alternative for high capacity transit improvements, and to explore further options to the west in the MAG Transit Framework Study including intermodal connections. *It was noted in discussion at the meeting that the project limits should be extended to 83rd Avenue. Federal Fiscal Year 2008 MAG Final Closeout Due to the deferral of two projects, the funding amount available for Federal Fiscal Year 2008 MAG Final Closeout increased from $14.7 million to $15.2 million. The identification of these additional funds for closeout resulted in a recommendation to allow additional projects, in order of rank on the contingency list, to  be funded. The TPC recommended approval of the FFY 2008 MAG Final Closeout, and recommended amending/modifying the FY 2008-2012 MAG Transportation Improvement Program to allow the projects to proceed. Future Meetings and Events Don’t Trash Arizona informational booth 6:40 PM, Thursday, August, 7, 2008, adjacent to Chase Field prior to the Diamondbacks game. Transportation Policy Committee Note that there will be no MAG policy meetings in August. 4:00 PM, Wednesday September 17, 2008, MAG Offices. The MAG Offices are located at 302 N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix. Meeting rooms are on the second floor. All meetings are subject to change. Let's Keep Moving E-Update is a monthly electronic newsletter providing information about the Transportation Policy Committee and the implementation of the Regional Transportation Plan. For questions regarding this publication, or to be removed from the distribution list, contact Kelly Taft at (602) 254-6300, or via e-mail at ktaft@mag.maricopa.gov.