Gallego Goes 14 for 14, Brings Home Over $18 Million for Arizona Communities
WASHINGTON – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) proudly announced that all 14 of his Community Project Funding (CPF) requests were included in the government funding package passed by the House of Representatives yesterday – totaling $18,607,035 in funding coming directly to Arizona.
“I am extremely proud to have secured this funding that will directly benefit everyday Arizonans, including water conservation in Globe, pedestrian safety in Guadalupe, affordable housing in Tucson, traffic improvements at Phoenix Sky Harbor, and more,” said Rep. Gallego. “I have been working tirelessly with local leaders to fund these critical projects on behalf of Arizonans. I am thrilled to see them finally passed the House today and soon signed into law.”
The CPF program allows members to submit funding requests for projects proposed by public institutions, localities, states, Tribes, or non-profits. A full list of Rep. Gallego’s projects funded in today’s bill is below.
Interior
Name: Cave Creek, AZ Phoenix Interconnect Project
Recipient: Town of Cave Creek
Amount Funded: $2,000,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: Supporting water infrastructure projects such as this one between the Town of Cave Creek and the City of Phoenix provides essential funding to municipal investment in vital system improvements to ensure a more redundant and reliable water supply for communities. The South Cave Creek Water Supply Project ("Phoenix Interconnect Project") will help conserve, protect, and sustain rapidly declining Colorado River water resources, which is the sole surface water supply for the Town of Cave Creek and Desert Hills communities. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will profoundly fortify the water supply of Cave Creek, as well as surrounding unincorporated areas, as well as improving the water quality of Phoenix- the largest city in the state and one of the largest in the United States.
Name: City of Globe, AZ Waterline Replacement Project
Recipient: City of Globe
Amount Funded: $959,752
Project Purpose and Explanation: This request is for 2.2 million dollars to fund phase one of a three-phase plan to upgrade the waterline infrastructure and save Arizona's most precious resource. This fund will be a huge step forward in restoring normal operations of the City's water system, allowing the City of Globe to continue the legacy of working hard to secure the future of our community. Amidst the global water crisis, a focus on sustainability, conservation, and efficiency is more critical than ever. Globe depends on Arizona groundwater for their water supply, and supplies are diminishing: wells have experienced water level declines of 80 to 230 feet from their installation to the late 2000s, with an average drop of 125 feet over 60 years. This, combined with the severe drought on the Colorado River, make water one of Arizona's most scarce resources and one that cannot be wasted. Globe's current hundred-year-old pipe system is leading to shocking, preventable water loss to the tune of 276.20-acre feet annually. By replacing these pipes, this project will save water not only for Globe but for the rest of Arizona and the Lower Basin, who are facing existential threat from drought.
Name: City of Glendale AZ Groundwater Treatment System Project
Recipient: City of Glendale
Amount Funded: $959,752
Project Purpose and Explanation: Glendale uses groundwater wells to supplement the drinking water supply for residents and businesses, especially in times of drought. This project involves the rehabilitation of the City’s critical well sites, including pipelines, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls equipment to improve water production, energy efficiency, and water quality. Rehabilitation of existing infrastructure is essential for continued reliability and security of our water sources, especially as state allocations of Colorado River water are projected to decrease drastically. This project is important and a good use of taxpayer dollars because it provides reliable water supply to Glendale residents and ensures sustainable water management for decades to come. Funding this project now will actually save taxpayers money vs addressing this in the future while costs continue to rise.
Name: Tolleson, AZ Wastewater Digester Rehabilitation Project
Recipient: City of Tolleson
Amount Funded: $959,752
Project Purpose and Explanation: The Tolleson WWTP provides treatment to the cities of Tolleson, Youngtown, and Sun City, Arizona. Digester #4 is a piece of equipment that has been in an inoperable state since 2010 and needs major rehabilitation. This would increase the plant's solids (sludge) handling capacity/capabilities and position the plant to serve additional communities in the region, as wastewater capacity in the region is critical to addressing the rapid growth in the state. With the rapid growth facing the state, the City of Tolleson and the Tolleson WWTP have been identified as an option to treat the wastewater of other communities in the region. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will drastically increase the water processing capacity of the plant and support not only Tolleson but surrounding communities in a rapidly growing area of the state.
Commerce, Justice, Science
Name: San Carlos Apache Police Department Equipment Needs
Recipient: San Carlos Apache tribe
Amount Funded: $963,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: The San Carlos Apache Police Department (SCAPD), the Tribe’s law enforcement agency, seeks funding to improve response times and increase the public safety presence on the Reservation. The funding would be used for police department needs including police cruisers, radios, digital forensics tools, officer equipment, and updated cameras. This project is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it helps ensure that the underfunded and understaffed Tribal Police Department has access to the necessary equipment to carry out public safety functions on behalf of San Carlos and nearby Arizona communities.
Transportation
Name: Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and Dilemma Zone Advance Detection Technology Upgrades
Recipient: City of Goodyear
Amount Funded: $500,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: This funding will be used to upgrade the city’s traffic signal network and add important, state-of-the-art safety features. The upgrades will improve traffic congestion and roadway safety, including through rapid adjustments to red-light timing to improve traffic flow in the event of shifting traffic patterns. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because, as the City of Goodyear grows, there are increased demands to its roadway system. These upgrades will pay dividends in increased economic activity and reduced drive times for residents, commuters, and visitors alike.
Name: PHX Terminal 3 Recirculation Roadway Improvements
Recipient: City of Phoenix
Amount Funded: $960,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: The project is to mitigate increased congestion west of the Terminal 2 parking garage by increasing the merge length from the recirculation roadway onto eastbound Sky Harbor Boulevard. The westbound recirculation road immediately west of Terminal 3 creates vehicle congestion and conflicts due to weaving movements and short merge lanes onto the eastbound Terminal 3 curb. In addition, congestion on Sky Harbor Boulevard also occurs north and east of the Terminal 2 parking garage due to limited lanes in each direction. The project would improve passenger safety and help improve traffic flow on a crucial roadway into the airport.
Name: Roadway and Pedestrian Safety Improvements
Recipient: Town of Guadalupe
Amount Funded: $1,616,279
Project Purpose and Explanation: The funding will be used for reconstruction of Calle Guadalupe from the I-10 overpass to the town limits. The existing asphalt concrete pavement will be milled to a depth of 3" and then overlayed with 3" of new pavement. All existing curbs and sidewalks will be protected in place and all roadway striping will be reapplied. Streetlights on Calle Guadalupe will be removed and replaced to provide required lighting along the corridor and vandalized and inadequate traffic signs will be replaced throughout the town. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will greatly enhance safety and significantly improve vehicular travel. Calle Guadalupe is an important thoroughfare, providing access in and out of the Town of Guadalupe.
Name: Sacaton Local Road Paving
Recipient: Gila River Indian Community
Amount Funded: $850,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: This funding will be used to repave approximately 1.4 miles of road in Gila River Indian Community's District 3 - Sacaton. The project will also insert 5 speed bumps to decrease speed of travel in this residential area from an average of 35 to 45 miles per hour to a speed of under 25 miles per hour. It is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will improve the safety of the roads by providing a suitable surface for access to Sacaton and Community housing subdivisions. The Community has over 420 miles of road traversing the Reservation and federal funding is limited to address the construction and maintenance needs on those roads.
Housing and Urban Development
Name: South 10th Avenue Affordable and Mixed-Income Housing Development
Recipient: City of Tucson
Amount Funded: $4,000,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: This project will prepare a 12-acre, city-owned site for a 300- to 500-unit affordable and mixed-income housing development. Site preparations will include green storm water infrastructure, floor control features, sidewalks, streetscape improvements, and utility installations/improvements.
Name: Justa Center Building Construction
Recipient: Area Agency on Aging, Region One, Incorporated
Amount Funded: $850,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: This project will address the growing need for services for seniors experiencing homelessness in the Phoenix area by constructing a new building to house the Justa Center. The Justa Center provides a safe indoor space where adults 55+ experiencing homelessness can go during the day to receive services including meals, showers, laundry, computer access, benefits counseling, heat relief, storage lockers, and mailboxes (critical for receiving Social Security checks). The current building where the Justa Center is housed, owned by Area Agency on Aging, Regions One, is unsafe and in disrepair. The Area Agency on Aging plans to build a new building to house the Justa Center which will be safer and larger, allowing them to offer additional services and help more seniors.
Name: CASS Senior Haven
Recipient: Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS)
Amount Funded: $1,500,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: Opening July 2023, The Haven will provide emergency temporary housing for senior citizens (aged 55+) in a non-congregate hotel setting with a bed capacity of 170. The Haven model is a closed campus, with private rooms and shared living areas that are ideal for seniors because they are safer and less overwhelming than a congregate shelter. The Haven is projected to serve 500 seniors annually. Through this Community Project Funding, The Haven will construct a community center that will serve as a hub for the seniors to eat their meals, recreate, socialize, and attend classes and workshops to help support them on their journey to permanent housing. The funding will also go towards blight reduction and beautification and purchasing washers and dryers for client and staff use.
Name: Family Shelter Expansion & Remodel
Recipient: UMOM New Day Centers Inc.
Amount Funded: $1,988,500
Project Purpose and Explanation: This funding will be used to redesign, remodel, and repurpose 24 shelter rooms at UMOM’s existing Phoenix campus serving families experiencing homelessness. This is part of a larger project to redesign and remodel all 150 rooms in the building. It is a good use of taxpayer funds because the remodel will allow UMOM to add one bed to every room - expanding their capacity and allowing them to serve larger families. The complete 150 room redesign and remodel will allow UMOM to serve an additional 880 parents and children each year. The remodel will also involve removing hazardous materials including lead-based paint and asbestos that were used in the original 1950s construction of the property.
Name: Garfield II
Recipient: Greater Phoenix Urban League
Amount Funded: $500,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: This funding will be used to construct 60 new affordable housing units for seniors. These units will provide safe and secure housing that allow Arizona seniors to age in place with dignity and independence. This project will include supportive services for tenants and is centrally located with access to public transportation. It is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will help address the shortage of affordable housing units in Phoenix, and by extension the growing homelessness crisis facing Maricopa County.