Rep. Gallego Secures More Than $17.6 Million in Infrastructure & Transportation Funding for 6 Key Projects in Arizona’s 7th District in House Transportation Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure announced that six key projects in Arizona's 7th District will be included in the five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill to be voted on later this week. The bill, entitled the INVEST in America Act, will provide critical investments in our nation's roads, bridges, rail and public transit.
"I am proud to secure funding for 6 transportation and infrastructure projects in my District in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's INVEST in America Act this year. After working with local stakeholders, it is clear that these projects will bring not only more than $17 million in federal dollars to our community, but also invest in a new vision for safe, green and accessible transportation in the Phoenix area," Rep. Gallego said.
"The Highline Canal Recreational Path project in Guadalupe and the Grand Canalscape trail project in Maryvale will improve recreational opportunities for underserved areas in my District, while the Flashing Yellow Arrow project in Glendale and the Intersection Improvements at 6 high-crash intersections in Phoenix – including the most dangerous intersection in the region – will improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transit users of all ages and abilities. Finally, the Cool Pavement Program and the Downtown Electric Vehicle Charging Stations project will invest in an equitable, green future for our city and state by targeting underserved neighborhoods suffering from heat island effect for relief and investing in accessible electric vehicle infrastructure. I look forward to working with the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that these critical projects are signed into law."
The following projects in Arizona's 7th District are included in the INVEST in America Act:
Project Sponsor: City of Phoenix
Project Name/Location: Implement Intersection Safety Improvements at Six High-Crash Locations, Phoenix, AZ
Project Description: This project funds a broad range of safety improvements at 6 of the highest crash intersections in the Phoenix area as identified by the Maricopa Associations of Governments (MAG), including the most dangerous intersection. The intersections targeted for improvement are:
75th Avenue and Indian School Road – 85033 (#1);
27th Avenue and Camelback Road – 85017 (#10);
35th Avenue and Glendale Avenue – 85051 (#17);
83rd Avenue and Indian School Road – 85037 (#24);
67th Avenue and Thomas Road – 85033 (#45);
59th Avenue and Indian School Road – 85033 (#90).
This project also reflects Congressman Gallego's leadership in ensuring that new infrastructure spending promotes "Complete Streets" that are safe and accessible for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, public transit users, as well as people of all ages and abilities.
Requested Amount: $5.76 million
Project Sponsor: City of Glendale
Project Name/Location: Flashing Yellow Arrow Phase III, Glendale, AZ
Project Description: This project will improve vehicle and pedestrian safety at 21 intersections in the City of Glendale, primarily through the installation of flashing yellow arrows for all 21 traffic signals. The project has been demonstrated to reduce vehicle collisions and improve pedestrian and other vehicle safety at these intersections.
Requested Amount: $800,000
Project Sponsor: City of Phoenix
Project Name/Location: Cool Pavement Expansion Program, Phoenix, AZ
Project Description: City of Phoenix recently completed a pilot program where it selected portions of eight neighborhoods and one city park to receive cool pavement treatment. Cool pavement is lighter in color than traditional asphalt and coatings, reflects back the sunlight, and has the potential to offset rising nighttime temperatures in Phoenix. Preliminary results suggest a 10-12 degree decrease in surface temperatures. Cool pavement could also extend the life of existing pavement, lowering long term maintenance costs. With this funding, Phoenix would add 35 miles of cool pavement to underserved neighborhoods most in need of relief from heat island effect.
Requested Amount: $3.2 million
Project Sponsor: City of Phoenix
Project Name/Location: Grand Canalscape Improvements Phase IV: 47th Avenue to Interstate 17
Project Description: In partnership with Salt River Project, Phoenix has been investing in the establishment of a continuous multi-use recreational trail system along the Grand Canal waterway. This project would provide for a 10-foot concrete pathway, with dusk-to-dawn pedestrian lighting, seating, landscaping, and signalized roadway crossings for recreation and active transportation uses. This project builds on 12 miles that were completed in February 2020 from I-17 to the City's eastern border, and 3½ miles that are currently under design and funded for construction from the City's western border to 47th Avenue. This project will activate an irrigation canal and provide a quality of life amenity for residents and visitors and connections to neighborhoods, schools, parks, and other key destinations.
Requested Amount: $5 million
Project Sponsor: Town of Guadalupe
Project Name/Location: Highline Canal Recreational Path Lighting
Project Description: Project funding would enable the Town of Guadalupe to replace the 76 presently inoperable solar powered path lighting fixtures and poles to improve path lighting and safety along the Highline Canal path. The current lighting system has been subjected to repeated vandalism and theft. The project will increase opportunities for safe recreational activities and exercise for an underserved community in Guadalupe, AZ.
Requested Amount: $501,824
Project Sponsor: City of Phoenix
Project Name/Location: Downtown Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Phoenix, AZ
Project Description: This project would provide funds to deploy up to 50 Level 3 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in central Phoenix. Level 3 EV charging stations, commonly known as "DC Fast Charging" are capable of recharging an EV in 1 to 2 hours. The City proposes to utilize available and existing public right-of-way for the installation and operation of Level 3 EV charging stations in employment centers in the downtown area where they would likely coincide with the location of existing on-street parking stalls.
Requested Amount: $2.4 million
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure received funding requests for more than 2,380 projects nationwide to be included in the bill, which builds upon H.R. 2, the "Moving Forward Act," from the 116th Congress. States, Localities, Transit agencies, and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) were eligible to submit requests for funding.
You can learn more about the Committee's process here. You can see the all of the projects that Rep. Gallego submitted to the committee for consideration here.
The T&I Committee process for considering member projects is separate and distinct from the House Committee on Appropriations' FY22 process for considering Community Project Funding requests.