Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study

I-11 study hits milestone

I-11 study hits milestone

SR24-1

I-11 study hits milestone

I-11 study hits milestone

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director
July 20, 2021

After five years of study, technical analysis and input from communities and stakeholders, the Arizona Department of Transportation has published the Interstate 11 Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for the public to review. This marks a milestone for the 280-mile proposed corridor, stretching from Nogales to Wickenburg. The study also represents the largest, in miles, of a Tier I undertaken in Arizona.

The proposed I-11 is envisioned as a multi-use corridor that would provide a connection from Mexico to the Hoover Dam, connecting with I-11 in Nevada. This proposed statewide highway would improve Arizona’s access to regional and international markets while opening up new opportunities for enhanced travel, mobility, trade, commerce, job growth and economic competitiveness. While the evaluation phase of this high-priority and high-capacity transportation corridor has begun, funding for further studies, design and construction has not been identified.

The Final Tier 1 EIS is available at i11study.com/Arizona. The website also lists locations throughout the study area where a hard copy of the Final Tier 1 EIS is available for review. An Interactive EIS is also available on the study website. The 30-day public review period runs through the close of business on Monday, Aug. 16. For information on how to submit a comment, visit the Contact Us page on the study website. 

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Final Tier I EIS outlines the Preferred Corridor Alternative, including a parallel analysis of what’s called the “No-Build Alternative.” The process to develop a Preferred Corridor Alternative included technical analysis, coordination with study partners such as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), participating and cooperating agencies and tribal governments, and the review and consideration of public input received. ADOT and FHWA listened to and read every public comment submission during the Tier I study.  More than 12,000 comment submissions were received during the 90-day public comment period for the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, which was published on April 5, 2019. 

Once the 30-day public review period is complete for the Final Tier 1 EIS, ADOT and FHWA will work toward a Record of Decision (ROD). That document, which is scheduled to be published in late 2021, will identify a Selected Corridor Alternative or the No-Build Option. The ROD marks the end of the Tier 1 EIS process.

I want to thank and congratulate all of our stakeholders and the thousands of people who have taken the time to comment during this process. Thanks also to the I-11 study team for their due diligence in conducting this important study and reaching this milestone. 

I would particularly like to acknowledge the support from the Arizona State Transportation Board, which authorized $15 million to be spent to study the 280 miles from Nogales to Wickenburg. It was the foresight of former Chairman Victor Flores who saw the need to include the entire corridor for the study.

Designating US 93 from Wickenburg to Nevada as the “Future I-11 Corridor” was made possible by our congressional delegation, which also deserves my thanks and appreciation. That effort provided another vital milestone for the corridor.

Governor Doug Ducey has been a strong proponent for the I-11 Corridor. He sees the importance of improving Arizona’s access to regional and international markets, which in turn enhances the state’s economy and competitiveness within the region.

I would like to recognize the important partnerships ADOT has had during the course of the study, from FHWA to the Maricopa Association of Governments, Pima Association of Governments, Sun Corridor in Pinal County and the I-ll Coalition. 

I would encourage everyone to visit the study website to learn more about this potential future key Arizona corridor. Again, that study website is i11study.com/Arizona

Arizona laying the groundwork for the future Interstate 11

Arizona laying the groundwork for the future Interstate 11

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Arizona laying the groundwork for the future Interstate 11

Arizona laying the groundwork for the future Interstate 11

September 5, 2018

PHOENIX – After investing more than half a billion dollars over the past 20 years to turn the primary route between Phoenix and Las Vegas into a modern four-lane divided highway, the Arizona Department of Transportation has committed another $155 million for improvements to US 93 over the next five years.

All of this is with an eye toward an Interstate 11 between the two largest cities in the country not directly connected by an interstate freeway and spanning the state from the border with Mexico to Hoover Dam. Since 2014, signs have marked US 93 in Arizona as the “Future I-11 Corridor.”

“ADOT has spent years investing in the future Interstate 11 and laying the foundation for this border-to-border highway,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “We’re putting the pieces together today for what I-11 will be in the future. These substantial and continuing investments show our commitment to a corridor that is essential for commercial and recreational travel and also to making Arizona a better place to live and work.”

In addition to the completed and planned improvements to US 93, a $134 million ADOT project beginning next year will upgrade State Route 189, the 3.75-mile Nogales highway connecting Interstate 19 with the Mariposa Port of Entry. This route is essential to trade between Arizona and Mexico, the state’s largest international trading partner.

In 2015, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act, formally designated I-11 throughout Arizona. It stated that the I-11 corridor will generally follow State Route 189 and Interstate 19 from Nogales to Tucson, Interstate 10 from Tucson to Phoenix, and US 93 from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line.

The designation doesn’t include funding but identifies I-11 as a high-priority corridor eligible for federal funding. ADOT continues to work with its federal, state and local partners to identify funding for I-11, which is expected to include a combination of new and existing roadways. 

ADOT is currently funding and conducting an environmental study to identify a potential 2,000-foot wide corridor for I-11 between Nogales and Wickenburg. The Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is expected to be complete in late 2019 or early 2020. Tier 2 environmental studies would be required to narrow a corridor into a specific freeway alignment if the build option is selected as part of the Tier 1 study.

As I-11 comes closer to reality in Arizona, US 93 would be upgraded to interstate highway standards, including creating traffic interchanges.

Currently all but 39 miles of the 200-mile drive from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line has been upgraded to a four-lane divided highway to improve traffic flow, support the movement of freight and enhance safety through this heavily traveled area. The entire northern segment of US 93 from Kingman to the Nevada state line (mileposts 1 to 68) is now a four-lane divided highway following the completion of a $71 million project in 2010.

ADOT’s 2019-2023 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program includes more than $155 million dedicated to projects to improve US 93 from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line north of Kingman, the designated route of I-11. This includes three projects that will widen an additional 11 miles of US 93 to four-lane divided highway and the start of right-of-way acquisition for a new US 93 interchange with I-40 in Kingman.

“Interstate freeways are Arizona’s Key Commerce Corridors, the foundation moving commerce and connecting friends and families,” Halikowski said. “To remain competitive in the ever-evolving global marketplace, our transportation infrastructure must advance with our state’s needs. That’s what’s behind ADOT’s ongoing commitment to advancing US 93 and the concept of Interstate 11.”

For more information about I-11 in Arizona, visit i11study.com/Arizona.

Meetings kicking off I-11 corridor study draw big turnout

Meetings kicking off I-11 corridor study draw big turnout

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Meetings kicking off I-11 corridor study draw big turnout

Meetings kicking off I-11 corridor study draw big turnout

July 27, 2016

PHOENIX – The numbers speak volumes about Arizona’s interest in the proposed Interstate 11: Six public meetings held recently attracted 540 community members who shared comments and questions. Hundreds more offered their perspectives online.

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Interstate 11 study team visited Casa Grande, Buckeye, Nogales, Tucson, Marana and Wickenburg to involve the community in a process known as public scoping, part of an environmental study to select a corridor alternative between Nogales and Wickenburg.

That had ADOT representatives answering questions, receiving feedback, and encouraging attendees to mark suggestions and concerns on maps of the 280-mile-long corridor study area.

“We’re excited about the high level of interest and engagement that we’ve seen,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “The great turnout and the opportunity for the public to tell us what’s important to them are critical to this process.”

No specific routes for I-11 have been chosen or favored at this early stage in the process. ADOT’s goal is having a selected corridor alternative in place at the end of the environmental study. A no-build alternative will be considered as well.

The next formal public involvement opportunity will begin early next year, when the study team will present possible routes for I-11.

In addition to those who attended the June meetings, 125 people submitted comment forms or surveys and 522 people completed an online survey during a 45-day comment period.

The study team, which also held scoping meetings in Phoenix, Casa Grande and Tucson with representatives of 21 federal, state and local agencies, will now analyze the feedback.

Anyone interested in sharing their views about the study can do so at any time throughout the study process. Information and materials, including a map of the corridor study area, are available at i11study.com/Arizona.

Comments can be provided via mail, email and voicemail:

Interstate 11 Tier 1 EIS Study Team
c/o ADOT Communications
1655 W. Jackson St., Mail Drop 126F
Phoenix, AZ 85007

This week: Southern Arizona hosts three Interstate 11 public meetings

This week: Southern Arizona hosts three Interstate 11 public meetings

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This week: Southern Arizona hosts three Interstate 11 public meetings

This week: Southern Arizona hosts three Interstate 11 public meetings

June 20, 2016

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is holding three public meetings this week in southern Arizona as part of a three-year environmental study for the proposed Interstate 11.

The meetings in Nogales, Tucson and Marana are part of the public scoping process for a corridor stretching from Nogales to Wickenburg.

Participants will be able to meet and talk with members of the study team to ask questions, provide comments and stay involved. They’ll also be able to view maps of the corridor study area and mark up those maps with their ideas and comments.

The meetings run from 4 to 6:30 p.m., with presentations beginning at approximately 4:15 p.m. The same information will be presented at each meeting. Earlier this month, meetings were held in Casa Grande and Buckeye. The final meeting will be held in Wickenburg.

Tuesday, June 21
Nogales High School – Cafeteria
1905 N. Apache Blvd.
Nogales

Wednesday, June 22
Arizona Riverpark Inn
777 W. Cushing St.
Tucson

Thursday, June 23
Marana Middle School – Gymnasium
11285 W. Grier Rd.
Marana

Wednesday, June 29
Wickenburg Community Center
160 N. Valentine St.
Wickenburg

Planned as much more than a highway, I-11 is envisioned as a multimodal corridor connecting Arizona with regional and international markets while opening up new opportunities for mobility, trade, job growth and economic competitiveness.

The recommended I-11 corridor would likely follow US 93 from the Hoover Dam bypass bridge south to Wickenburg. The 280-mile corridor that is the focus of the current environmental study begins in Wickenburg and runs west of the Phoenix metropolitan area and then south to the Tucson area and then Nogales.

The current 45-day comment period allows Arizonans to provide input on the I-11 study area. It’s an opportunity to ask questions and share comments about topics such as potential locations for the I-11 corridor, environmental considerations, impact on wildlife habitats or cultural resources, and possible opportunities for other transportation modes, such as rail, that may be considered.

Those interested in commenting on the study but who are unable to attend a public meeting are encouraged to visit the study website at i11study.com/Arizona and complete an online survey. All feedback, questions and comments will be considered part of the study, are entered into the project record and will help shape the proposed I-11 corridor. The public comment period runs until July 8.

In March, ADOT, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, launched the three-year study. It began with a process called pre-scoping that included meetings with federal, state and local governments, resource agencies and planning organizations within the study corridor.

During the next three years, ADOT will develop an Alternatives Selection Report to assess a wide range of corridor alternatives and options, along with opportunities and constraints. A Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate in greater detail a smaller number of corridor alternatives, including segments that may advance as independent improvements or projects. There will be a no-build alterative as well.

Input from the public, communities and other stakeholders will contribute to these two reports, as well as a Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement that will list a selected corridor alternative.

In November 2014, the Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation completed a two-year feasibility study as the first step in the Interstate 11 process. In December 2015, Congress formally designated Interstate 11 from north to south in Arizona through the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. While the designation doesn’t include funding, it does make the corridor eligible for federal funding in the future.

The public, communities and other stakeholders will have opportunities to comment through regular meetings, community events and other forums throughout the course of the three-year study. Right now, comments can be sent to:

Interstate 11 Tier 1 EIS Study Team
c/o ADOT Communications
1655 W. Jackson St., Mail Drop 126F
Phoenix, AZ 85007

 For more information about the I-11 study, visit i11study.com/Arizona

I-11 public comment period begins; six meetings planned for June

I-11 public comment period begins; six meetings planned for June

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I-11 public comment period begins; six meetings planned for June

I-11 public comment period begins; six meetings planned for June

May 25, 2016

PHOENIX – With six public meetings scheduled in June and an opportunity for the public to contribute in other ways, Arizonans can help shape the next step in planning for the proposed Interstate 11 as the Arizona Department of Transportation moves ahead on a three-year environmental study for a corridor stretching from Nogales to Wickenburg.

Planned as much more than a highway, I-11 is envisioned as a multimodal corridor connecting Arizona with regional and international markets while opening up new opportunities for mobility, trade, job growth and economic competitiveness.

ADOT has opened a 45-day comment period allowing Arizonans to provide input on the I-11 study area, a process known as public scoping. It’s an opportunity to ask questions and share comments about topics such as potential locations for the I-11 corridor, environmental considerations, impact on wildlife habitats or cultural resources, and possible opportunities for other transportation modes, such as rail, that may be considered.

“The progress on the Interstate 11 study shows ADOT’s commitment to establish a key border-to-border corridor and a trade route with Mexico that will continue our state’s efforts to boost commerce, job growth and economic development,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “We have the support of partner agencies throughout the study corridor who realize the benefits that I-11 can bring in terms of competitiveness, regional and global connections, and business opportunities through this new freight and travel route.”

The recommended I-11 corridor would likely follow US 93 from the Hoover Dam bypass bridge south to Wickenburg. The 280-mile corridor that is the focus of the current environmental study begins in Wickenburg and runs west of the Phoenix metropolitan area and then south to the Tucson area and then Nogales.

Publishing a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act, kicks off the formal environmental study process, as ADOT works to prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement to select an I-11 corridor alternative between Nogales and Wickenburg.

Six public meetings are scheduled in the study area: 

Wednesday, June 8

Dorothy Powell Senior Adult Center – Dining Room
405 E. Sixth St.
Casa Grande

Wednesday, June 15

Buckeye Community Center – Multipurpose Room
201 E. Centre Ave.
Buckeye

Tuesday, June 21

Nogales High School – Cafeteria
1905 N. Apache Blvd.
Nogales

Wednesday, June 22

Arizona Riverpark Inn
777 W. Cushing St.
Tucson

Thursday, June 23

Marana Middle School – Gymnasium
11285 W. Grier Rd.
Marana

Wednesday, June 29

Wickenburg Community Center
160 N. Valentine St.
Wickenburg

All meetings run from 4 to 6:30 p.m., with presentations beginning at approximately 4:15 p.m. The same information will be presented at each meeting.

Those interested in commenting on the study but are unable to attend a public meeting are encouraged to visit the study website at i11study.com/Arizona and complete an online survey. All feedback, questions and comments will be considered part of the study, are entered into the project record and will help shape the proposed I-11 corridor.

In March, ADOT, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, launched the three-year study. Until now, a process called pre-scoping has included meetings with federal, state and local governments, resource agencies and planning organizations within the study corridor.

The first step in the study is developing an Alternatives Selection Report to assess a wide range of corridor alternatives and options, along with opportunities and constraints. A Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate in greater detail a smaller number of corridor alternatives, including segments that may advance as independent improvements or projects. There will be a no-build alterative as well.

Input from the public, communities and other stakeholders will contribute to these two reports, as well as a Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement that will list a selected corridor alternative.

In November 2014, the Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation completed a two-year feasibility study as the first step in the Interstate 11 process. In December 2015, Congress formally designated Interstate 11 from north to south in Arizona through the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. While the designation doesn’t include funding, it does make the corridor eligible for federal funding in the future.

During the next three years, the public, communities and other stakeholders will have opportunities to comment through regular meetings, community events and other forums. Right now, comments can be sent to:

                 Interstate 11 Tier 1 EIS Study Team
                 c/o ADOT Communications
                1655 W. Jackson St., Mail Drop 126F
                Phoenix, AZ 85007

For more information about the I-11 study, visit i11study.com/Arizona.  

Congressional proposal formally extends I-11 to Southern Arizona

Congressional proposal formally extends I-11 to Southern Arizona

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Congressional proposal formally extends I-11 to Southern Arizona

Congressional proposal formally extends I-11 to Southern Arizona

March 26, 2015

PHOENIX – As planning for the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor advances, Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski today expressed appreciation for the efforts of U.S. Senator John McCain and U.S. Senator Jeff Flake for their work to introduce the Intermountain West Corridor Development Act of 2015 to Congress.

The bill formally extends Interstate 11 from Wickenburg south through the Tucson area to Nogales, Arizona. Interstate 11 had previously received a congressional designation from Phoenix to Las Vegas. The Intermountain West Corridor Development Act would not only formally designate I-11 across Arizona from border to border by establishing a new international trade corridor, but would also extend the interstate north through Nevada as well, with plans to ultimately connect with existing high-priority corridors to the Canadian border. 

This act formalizes and reinforces ADOT’s overall concept for Interstate 11 in Arizona. ADOT, through its two-year feasibility study, which was completed last fall, focused on and supported the concept of Interstate 11 that runs border to border throughout Arizona, beginning at the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge and ending at the Arizona-Mexico border.

“I applaud the efforts of Senators McCain and Flake for their continued support to make Interstate 11 a reality,” said Halikowski. “As a part of ADOT’s Key Commerce Corridor plan, investment in corridors like Interstate 11 provides tremendous opportunities for Arizona to connect to other economic centers and up our game through increased trade, tourism, commerce, job growth and economic development throughout Arizona and the Intermountain West.”

The Intermountain West Corridor Development Act is also supported by Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.).

Other benefits of Interstate 11 include connections to major trade hubs and transcontinental roadways and railroad corridors, while improving safety and travel time along the north-south corridors of the western United States.

Last fall, the Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation completed an initial two-year feasibility study as the first step in the Interstate 11 process. In December, the Arizona State Transportation Board took action to approve $15 million for the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, which will allow ADOT to begin an environmental study in the area between Nogales and Wickenburg. The Tier 1 EIS is expected to begin later this year and is estimated to take three years to complete.

For more information about the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor, visit i11study.com.

Interstate 11 receives funding to move ahead to next step

Interstate 11 receives funding to move ahead to next step

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Interstate 11 receives funding to move ahead to next step

Interstate 11 receives funding to move ahead to next step

December 15, 2014

PHOENIX – In a move to ensure that the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study continues to move forward, the State Transportation Board approved the next step in the process and the funding to make it happen.

Today the board took action to approve $15 million for the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, which would allow the Arizona Department of Transportation to begin an environmental study in the area between Nogales and Wickenburg, part of the proposed corridor for Interstate 11. The Tier 1 EIS is expected to take three years to complete and will begin in 2015.

Interstate 11, once fully constructed, will connect Nogales and Las Vegas, extending north through Nevada, potentially reaching as far as Canada.

“Interstate 11 is a key transportation corridor to ensure our state’s competitiveness, economic growth and opportunity for all Arizonans,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Now that the two-year feasibility study is complete, we must keep the momentum going and move to the next phase, which is the necessary environmental work. These are the first steps in developing a new multimodal freight corridor and a manufacturing belt that will drive trade, commerce, job growth and economic development while facilitating Arizona’s strong connections to major regional and international markets.”

The $15 million in funding for the environmental study will come from the 2015-2019 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program.

In October, the board reviewed and accepted the recommendations documented in the Corridor Concept Report, the final element in the initial two-year feasibility study. The report, along with all the study’s documents and information, can be found at i11study.com.

The recommended I-11 corridor would likely follow US 93 from the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge south to Wickenburg, running west of the Phoenix metropolitan area, through the Tucson area to Nogales and the Mexican border. I-11 is envisioned as a continuous high-capacity trade corridor extending from Nogales to Las Vegas and potentially north toward Canada. The corridor will support a high proportion of large-scale manufacturing operations and focus on the reliable movement of freight traffic. As a multimodal corridor, I-11 also has the potential to include freight and passenger rail, energy transmission and other high-tech facilities.

Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study now complete

Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study now complete

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Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study now complete

Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study now complete

October 10, 2014

PHOENIX — More than two years ago, Arizona and Nevada set out on a study to determine the possibilities and benefits of developing a new interstate corridor to connect Phoenix and Las Vegas, while extending south to Mexico and north through Nevada, potentially reaching as far as Canada.

The goal of the study was not just to find a way to directly connect these two major metropolitan areas by building a new highway, but to develop a plan and the necessary infrastructure to position the two states for broader success in the global marketplace.

The Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study is now complete and points to the need for a new multimodal freight corridor and a manufacturing belt that will drive trade, commerce, job growth and economic development for the two states and facilitate strong connections to other major regional markets.

“Transportation is a primary driver of commerce, jobs and tourism,” said Governor Jan Brewer. “This is why Interstate 11 is such a critical investment in our future, as it opens new possibilities for our state while connecting communities and economies.”

Today the State Transportation Board reviewed and accepted the recommendations documented in the Corridor Concept Report, the final element in this initial two-year feasibility study. This report, along with all the study’s documents and information, can be found at i11study.com.

“Interstate 11 represents one of those major corridors that would provide access to international markets to the north and south of Arizona and to the east and west of us,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “I-11 is part of our plan for Arizona’s Key Commerce Corridors, which requires investment in our transportation infrastructure to ensure the necessary connectivity to other major markets. Arizona’s global competitiveness depends directly on our ability to move people, products and services quickly and efficiently. We need our highway corridors to get us there.”

The recommended I-11 corridor would likely follow US 93 from the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge south to Wickenburg, running west of the Phoenix metropolitan area, and then generally following I-10 and I-19 through southern Arizona to the Mexican border. I-11 is envisioned as a continuous high-capacity trade corridor extending from Nogales to Las Vegas and potentially north toward Canada that will support a high proportion of large-scale manufacturing operations located throughout the corridor with a major focus on reliable movement of freight traffic. As a multimodal corridor, it also has the potential to include freight and passenger rail, energy transmission and other high-tech facilities.

There is currently no schedule or funding to build Interstate 11. The next phase of the study process — the environmental impact statement — is also not funded.

For more information about the Interstate 11 study, visit i11study.com

There’s still time to participate in the virtual public meeting for the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study

There’s still time to participate in the virtual public meeting for the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study

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There’s still time to participate in the virtual public meeting for the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study

There’s still time to participate in the virtual public meeting for the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study

July 14, 2014

PHOENIX – As the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study nears completion, the Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation are encouraging community members to provide their input on the draft Corridor Concept Report by July 18.

It’s easy to provide feedback through a virtual public meeting set up at i11study.com. All the meeting materials are provided online, including a narrated presentation and a comment form.

Three public meetings were held in June and the month-long online virtual meeting launched on June 18 to gather comments for the draft Corridor Concept Report, a document that will outline the vision for the I-11 corridor, reinforce the justification for building a new multiuse interstate corridor and define an implementation plan to move the project forward.

The two state transportation departments have been working together since the summer of 2012 on the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study, which includes detailed corridor planning of an interstate link connecting the Phoenix and Las Vegas metropolitan areas, while extending the corridor through southern Arizona to Mexico and potentially north to Canada.

The Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study is a two‐year, multiphase, high‐level study examining the feasibility, benefits, opportunities and constraints of a proposed new interstate highway corridor. The study is expected to be completed this summer. Funding to construct this new corridor has not been identified. In addition to the Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation, other study partners are the Maricopa Association of Governments, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Federal Highway Administration and Federal Railroad Administration.

For more information about the I‐11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study and to sign up for updates, visit i11study.com.

Senators McCain and Flake Bring Attention to I-11 Benefits

Senators McCain and Flake Bring Attention to I-11 Benefits

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Senators McCain and Flake Bring Attention to I-11 Benefits

Senators McCain and Flake Bring Attention to I-11 Benefits

June 20, 2014

PHOENIX – As the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study advances, it continues to gain attention from lawmakers in the nation’s capital. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Department of Transportation Director John S. Halikowski today expressed appreciation for the efforts of U.S. Senator John McCain and U.S. Senator Jeff Flake to propose an amendment expressing the “sense of the Congress” in support of the proposed Interstate 11.

The proposed amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015 expresses support for I-11 based on “significant enhancement for the western United States” for commerce, tourism, international trade, economic vitality and competitiveness on the global stage. In addition, the proposed amendment supports extending I-11 south to the international border with Mexico and north to the Canadian border.

The proposal lends support to an initiative led by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to study and construct I-11 as a critical economic link for Arizona and the Intermountain West region. Governor Brewer has been a strong advocate for the benefits of I-11, and has worked to focus attention on the proposed corridor.

“Not only will Interstate 11 create jobs in Arizona and Nevada, it also will integrate and increase the global competitiveness of the entire Southwest region,” said Governor Brewer. “I am very pleased to see strong bipartisan support at the local, state and federal level of this significant economic initiative.”

Halikowski expressed appreciation for the attention given to I-11 by lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

“As a corridor creating a stronger connection between Arizona and international markets, in addition to forging a more reliable, safer route between Phoenix and Las Vegas, Interstate 11 has benefits for the entire region,” he said. “ADOT appreciates the support of Senators McCain and Flake in highlighting the critical need for I-11 as a driver for continued economic expansion in the Intermountain West region. It is through leadership like this that we can continue looking forward, assessing our current and future needs and how to raise the funding to support those needs.”

In addition to Senators McCain and Flake, the amendment is supported by Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.).

The Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation have been working together since 2012 on the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study, which includes detailed corridor planning of an interstate link connecting the Phoenix and Las Vegas metropolitan areas, while extending the corridor through southern Arizona to Mexico and potentially north to Canada. Congress designated the future I-11 corridor between Phoenix and Las Vegas as part of the current surface transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).

The Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study is a two‐year, multiphase, high‐level study examining the feasibility, benefits, opportunities and constraints of a proposed new interstate highway corridor. The study is expected to be completed this summer. Funding to construct this new corridor has not been identified.

Public meetings for the study are scheduled for June 25 from 6-8 p.m. in the Phoenix area and on June 26 from 4-7 p.m. in Las Vegas. A public meeting in Tucson was held on Wednesday. Through July 18, the public can also participate in a virtual meeting, reviewing the latest project information and providing feedback online. This month-long virtual meeting will be hosted on the project website, i11study.com.

For more information about the I‐11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study and to sign up for updates, visit i11study.com.