Senator announced major investments she secured in the bipartisan appropriations legislation
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced that she secured over $52.2 million in direct Arizona investments as well as key policy priorities to build, repair, and modernize critical transportation infrastructure in every county in Arizona.
“I’m proud to deliver these federal investments to improve transportation safety, efficiency, and accessibility in every county in our state,” said Sinema, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The more than $52 million in funding Sinema secured will invest in projects strengthening airports, roads and bridges, public transportation, and more.
Arizona highlights from the Sinema-shaped legislation include:
- $3 million for a Prescott Airport land acquisition initiative that will allow continued, safer service for Northern Arizona.
- $3.6 million for Tolleson I-10 Frontage Road to address traffic concerns and add truck traffic to increase commercial activity. The project will alleviate traffic and provide alternate flow paths for traffic – increasing safety and reducing congestion.
- $3.795 million to widen Thornton Road in Casa Grande to address increased traffic in the area. The road widening will increase safety and make traffic flow more efficient.
- $3.8 million to reconstruct the Buffalo Soldier Trail – a critical roadway that serves over 20,000 vehicles per day while streamlining highway traffic.
- $1.382 million to Valley Metro Micro Transit to purchase seven electric accessible microtransit vehicles to fill an important need in areas that are historically underserved by traditional transit options.
- $500K for Valley Metro Electric Buses to purchase up to five battery electric buses and related charging infrastructure.
- $1 million for Chandler Micro Flex – a new, innovative microtransit service that provides on-demand public transportation for residents in Southwest and Central Chandler. The investment expands service to three additional schools.
Additionally, Sinema secured modifications to the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Program – a pilot program created by Sinema’s bipartisan infrastructure law – to allow 18-to-20-year-old commercial drivers who receive additional training and who operate trucks with specific additional safety equipment to drive in interstate commerce.
The Senator also secured language to update the Natural Gas Pipelines grant program to prioritize rural, disadvantaged communities to replace aging, deteriorating gas pipelines.