By Don Harris | Arizona Capitol Times
Massive projects designed to improve the flow of traffic in the Phoenix metro area have the potential to boost economic development at opposite ends of the Valley.
Work is barely under way on a 2½-year, $72.7 million expansion of the Loop 101 that generally slices through parts of Scottsdale and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation. Meanwhile, the $1.4 billion 39-mile Loop 303 that provides a direct — though not yet entirely up to freeway standards — link between I-10 west of Phoenix with I-17 south of Carefree Highway is taking shape segment-by-segment.
Both freeway projects, plus others throughout the Valley, are funded as part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ 20-year Regional Transportation Plan that was approved by county voters in 2004. Funding sources include a half-cent sales tax for transportation projects and the region’s share of federal highway funds.
