(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents a coalition of property and business owners throughout Pinal County who have worked to bring new transportation infrastructure to the region.)
By Jeff Chew | InMaricopa
Pinal Regional Transportation Authority’s board of directors today suspended operations of the 9-year-old agency with one director saying “there is no viable path forward for construction of highway projects.”
Board members represented by mayors and city council members from around Pinal County took the action during a special meeting this afternoon.
“After considering all options, I concluded that using the PRTA framework to improve State Route 347 or to develop a broader transportation plan is no longer feasible,” said Maricopa City Councilman Vincent Manfredi, who has been a PRTA board member or alternate since 2016. “Still, I am fully committed to finding solutions for the much-needed improvements on SR 347.”
Between 2017 and 2021, funds were collected under the PRTA 416/417 plan. However, after an Arizona Supreme Court ruling overturned voter approval of the plan, those funds are now being refunded.
Maricopa County also recognized this need, and its transportation initiative, Prop 479, easily passed Nov. 5, allocating some funds for SR 347 improvements in that county.
