Governor’s Executive Budget invests in highway system maintenance

PHOENIX – In addition to prioritizing affordability and protecting Arizona’s quality of life, Governor Katie Hobbs’ Executive Budget proposal includes strategic transportation investments that safeguard Arizona’s investment in state highways, enhance safety and help rural communities.

The Executive Budget includes an ongoing investment of $5.2 million from the State Highway Fund to address increased construction materials prices and extend the life of highway infrastructure to prevent more costly repairs in the future. 

It also includes $11.4 million from the State Highway Fund to meet baseline needs for 487.5 new lane miles statewide, many of them added by the Interstate 10 Broadway Curve project, as well as the new Interstate 17 flex lanes and the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. 

“This reasonable and responsible budget proposal benefits Arizona families by helping ADOT maintain a transportation system that safely connects people and empowers the economy,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. 

Among other transportation priorities, the Executive Budget includes a one-time deposit of $10 million from the General Fund to the State Match Advantage for Rural Transportation (SMART) Fund administered by ADOT. This program helps ensure that municipalities and counties in Greater Arizona are competitive when seeking federal transportation grants. It helps cover the cost of developing and submitting grant proposals and reimburses matching funds required for grants, as well as design and engineering services expenses associated with grant proposals.

Created in fiscal year 2023, the SMART Fund has awarded $55.2 million in state funds that have allowed rural communities to leverage $174.6 million in competitive transportation grants. These include: $4.4 million for a new connector road to support the new commercial port of entry coming to Douglas; $3.3 million for the Ruby Road Bridge over Potrero Creek in Santa Cruz County; and $3.7 million for a US 89 flood mitigation project in Coconino County.

ADOT is responsible for planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and operating the state’s highway transportation system, which includes more than 7,000 miles of interstates, freeways and principal arterial roadways and more than 8,500 bridges. The Department also provides driver license and registration services, is responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement and registration compliance, operates the Grand Canyon National Park Airport and maintains the state fleet.

For more information on ADOT, please visit azdot.gov.