ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	House: TI DPA/SE: 7-0-0-0

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HB 2234: Interstate 11; environmental; engineering; study

NOW: appropriation; Pinal County transportation study

Sponsor: Representative Martinez, LD 16

House Engrossed

Overview

Establishes the Pinal County Transportation Needs Study Committee (Committee). Appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2026 to the Committee to collaborate with an institution of higher education in this state to study transportation infrastructure needs in Pinal County.

History

Currently, Pinal County has a five-year Transportation Improvement and Maintenance Program (TIMP). The goal of TIMP is to identify potential funding and establish a schedule for the planning and construction of major maintenance projects. Transportation project requests are encouraged to be made by the citizens of Pinal County and once submitted are evaluated by the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) for prioritization. TAC is made up of 10 electors, two from each of Pinal County's five supervisory district, to serve a four-year term. TAC's main goal is to recommend a transportation plan to the Pinal County Board of Supervisors for final approval and inclusion in Pinal County's annual operating budget. 

Part of TIMP's process is conducting multiple studies across the county, including the Pinal County Transit Feasibility Study, the Southeast Valley Transit Study, the Central Arizona Regional Transit Route Optimization Study and the Pinal County Transit Governance Study.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $500,000 from the state GF in FY 2026 to the Committee to collaborate with an institution of higher education within this state to study transportation infrastructure needs in Pinal County. (Sec. 2) 

2. Establishes the Committee and requires the Committee to:

a) Assess current and projected transportation infrastructure needs within Pinal County, including roadways, public transit, and multimodal transportation options;

b) Identify gaps, inefficiencies and areas for improvement in Pinal county's transportation network;

c) Provide recommendations for future infrastructure investments and policy changes to enhance transportation safety, efficiency and future growth; and

d) Engage with local governments, regional planning agencies and community stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive assessment. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires the Committee to submit, on or before June 30, 2026, a report of the study's findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Arizona Department of Transportation and provide a copy of this report to the Secretary of State. (Sec. 1)

4. Repeals the Committee on January 1, 2027. (Sec. 1)

5. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing. (Sec. 2)

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