Arizona applied for $360 million to widen the last remaining stretch of I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson
WASHINGTON – Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly are seeking answers from the U.S. Department of Transportation on its decision not to award Arizona’s application for the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) grant program. Arizona applied for $360 million to widen the last remaining stretch of I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson.
“Given the significant impacts of this heavily trafficked corridor for interstate and international trade and commerce, and the opportunities to improve highway safety, we are disappointed that the U.S. Department of Transportation did not award a Mega grant for the project. We request a meeting with DOT to understand what led to an unsuccessful grant application, and ask that you direct us to other appropriate funding opportunities the U.S. Department of Transportation has so we can work with our state partners to ensure completion of this project critical to local residents, neighboring states, and international commerce,” wrote the senators.
Sinema and Kelly are seeking answers on the Transportation Department’s decision not to award Arizona’s application and more information about other potential federal support to complete this project. In their letter, the Senators stressed their commitment to work with their state partners to ensure completion of this project that is so critical to residents, neighboring states, and international commerce.
The U.S. Department of Transportation did not award a $360 million Mega grant to the Arizona Department of Transportation to widen the 26 miles of I-10 (Wild Horse Pass Corridor) on the Gila River Indian Community, which are only two lanes in each direction; the remaining stretches of I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson are at least three lanes each way. The Gila River Indian Community also supports this project, which would save lives and improve transportation safety. The State of Arizona has already committed over $500 million for the project and the Maricopa Association of Governments could contribute an additional $220 million.
The Mega grant was created in the bipartisan infrastructure law – which Sinema wrote and negotiated, and Kelly helped shape – to provide funding to projects that state and local governments would not normally be able to pay for their own.
Click HERE to read the letter.