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 TIME to Focus on Transportation Funding
Over the next 20 to 30 years, Arizona’s population
is projected to double in size. With such a large influx in population, Arizona’s
elected officials, policy makers and civic leaders
must work together to ensure that we develop and
maintain adequate roads, highways and public transportation
systems.
While different perspectives exist on how best to
address our current and future transportation needs,
most can agree that the decisions we make today will
have a tremendous impact on future generations of
Arizona residents.
One thing is certain — if we delay the necessary
investment to improve our transportation system,
we will be irresponsibly shifting the burden to future
generations. With escalating costs in construction
and materials, hesitation will only create even greater
obstacles for future decision makers.
Most road construction is funded through a tax on
gasoline, but the fact of the matter is, existing
gas taxes cannot keep pace with the current demands
on future transportation infrastructure requirements.
Additionally, the cost of road construction continues
to skyrocket, more than doubling in the last few
years alone. Quickly rising costs have meant less
purchasing power, resulting in a shortfall of funds
to meet growing transportation needs.
In response, civic, community and business leaders
have come together to propose an additional one-cent
sales tax that will generate an estimated $42 billion
to address the state’s major transportation needs
over the next 30 years.
Proposition 203, commonly referred to as the TIME
Initiative, will go before the voters on the November
ballot. This initiative is a balanced transportation
program with the majority of funding being allocated
for improving existing highways and construction
of new transportation corridors, along with funding
for high-speed rail between Phoenix and Tucson and
increased public transportation programs throughout
Arizona. Lastly, municipal and county governments
will be allocated funding annually for local transportation
priorities, as determined by each community.
AAA Arizona supports Proposition 203. We believe
that the sooner we begin investing in Arizona’s future
the better our long-term prospects will be for economic
development, regional tourism and the overall quality
of life for those that visit and those that are fortunate
to call Arizona home.
To view details on the TIME initiative, visit www.aaaaz.com/news. |
