By Michael Maresh | PinalCentral
ELOY — It was roads, roads and more roads under discussion at Friday morning’s Pinal Partnership breakfast at Robson Ranch in Eloy.
The roundtable included Congressman Juan Ciscomani, Gregory Byres with the Arizona Department of Transportation, Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith, Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland and Ed Zuercher, executive director of the Maricopa Association of Governments.
McFarland, like the rest of the panel, in his opening comments focused on water and roads. He also spoke about the county’s half-cent sales tax for road repair that soon will be up for renewal.
He said the No. 1 project would be the widening of Interstate 10, for which state funding has been approved.
Zuercher said when people come to an agency to seek funds for a project, those asking for just a portion with local funds already secured stand a better chance.
McFarland said the state has been generous, but the federal government needs to step up and pay part of the cost.