skip to main content

Thursday, June 1, 2023

play newscast audioPlay

Alabamans urge a grocery tax reduction, a tape shows Trump knew about a classified document on Iran, Pennsylvania puts federal road funds to work and Minnesota's marijuana law will wipe away minor offenses.

play newscast audioPlay

Democrats say a wealth tax would help alleviate some national debt, lawmakers aim to continue pandemic-era funding for America's child care sector, and teachers say firearms at school will make students less safe.

play newscast audioPlay

Oregon may expand food stamp eligibility to some undocumented households, rural areas have a new method of accessing money for roads and bridges, and Tennessee's new online tool helps keep track of cemetery locations.

Public Input Needed for AZ's Long-Range Transportation Plan

play audio
Play

Wednesday, March 8, 2023   

The Arizona Department of Transportation wants to hear from people across the state as it looks to set priorities for the state's 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan.

The Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund said the state plan should reflect the needs of all Arizonans, no matter where they live.

Diane Brown, executive director of the group, said there has been a clear need to increase features like bike lanes and walking paths, and also to improve public transit options. Brown thinks the goal should be to have transportation choices to help Arizonans save money, improve air quality and take public health impacts into account.

"The transportation system needs to significantly incorporate active transportation such as walking and biking along with public transit to provide Arizonans options," Brown asserted.

Brown added while Arizonans have expressed a desire for more public transit and alternate modes of transportation, it is unclear what the department is doing to help achieve such goals. According to the agency, 85% of people in the state travel by car, and fewer than 2% use public transit. The schedule includes a virtual meeting on March 9 at 6 p.m.

The 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan is not project-specific, but sets goals to guide the agency's transportation investments for years to come. The current plan focuses primarily on preserving and maintaining the state's current highway system.

Brown countered policymakers should invest in a transportation infrastructure which looks ahead to future needs, especially as the state faces continued water, climate and social equity challenges.

"ADOT recognizes Arizona's population is projected to increase and with it, Arizonans can expect further strain on our water resources and impacts to our climate," Brown pointed out.

Brown's group said the state's willingness to expand highways to alleviate congestion will help in the initial years, but not over time. According to the department, Pinal County is expected to see a big population jump by 2025, and together, Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties will hold nearly 85% of the state's population.

Disclosure: The Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy and Priorities, Consumer Issues, Energy Policy, and Urban Planning/Transportation. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
Human rights advocates point out in 2023, North Dakota adopted nearly a dozen laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Human rights voices are calling attention to new North Dakota laws deemed hostile toward LGBTQ+ individuals, saying it is part of a movement led by …


Social Issues

play sound

In eastern Kentucky, advocacy groups are expanding summer learning opportunities for families. Isolation and learning loss plague many rural …

Social Issues

play sound

In 1968, Congress passed a law requiring the Food and Drug Administration to minimize people's exposure to wireless radiation, but the agency dropped …


The owners of Dokkaebier in Oakland said they have thrived after participating in a business accelerator program called the ICA Fund. (Mikey Maher)

Social Issues

play sound

Traditional business lending is tight these days following a series of recent bank collapses but one program is helping small businesses grow…

Environment

play sound

The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulates carbon dioxide pipelines, and is holding a two-day conference in Des …

The BLM manages over 48 million acres in Nevada, which equates to about 67-percent of the Silver State. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Nevadans will have the opportunity to learn more and weigh in on a proposed public lands rule that shifts the Bureau of Land Management's focus to pri…

Social Issues

play sound

In Tennessee and across the country, the rapidly growing Hispanic population made remarkable strides in college enrollment and educational attainment…

Social Issues

play sound

The moment Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping elections bill into law last week, several voter-advocacy groups filed lawsuits against it…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021