1912-2012 SPECIAL ARIZONA CENTENNIAL EDITION February 2012—April 2012 Vol. 17: No. 1 MAG Members Celebrate the Arizona Centennial On February 14, 1912, Arizona became a state. The Valentine’s Day anniversary seems fitting, because what’s not to love about Arizona? MAG asked its member agencies to share some of the most significant events to take place in their jurisdictions over the past 100 years and how they are planning to celebrate the centennial. Apache Junction roots, first as a former stagecoach Most Significant Event(s): The stop, then to a thriving farming most significant event to take place community, to a bedroom suburb, in Apache Junction over the past to the vibrant city that it is today. 100 years was the opening of the Home to Phoenix International US-60 Superstition Freeway to Raceway, Avondale’s population Apache Junction. It happened on more than doubles twice each year August 16, 1991, when the section as it plays host to two NASCAR from Power Road to Goldfield events. Avondale also has found its Road in Apache Junction was com- niche in the area of youth and am- NASCAR racing at ateur sports, with regional indoor February 25, 2012. The parade pleted. Another significant event Phoenix Interna- will begin at Litchfield Road in that happened in the year prior and outdoor amenities for soccer, tional Raceway in to statehood was the opening of basketball and volleyball tourna- Goodyear at 10 a.m., travel along Avondale. Roosevelt Dam. ments that take place year round. Thomas Road, and end at Estrella In addition to an exciting mix of Mountain Community College in Celebration: retail and one of the largest auto- Avondale, where a family friendly Apache Junction malls in the state, the city boasts festival titled Planes, Trains and residents will be a medical corridor that provides Automobiles will showcase 100 years treated to several quality jobs for its residents. of transportation in the Southwest official centen- Valley. nial events, most Celebration: Avondale is planning Roosevelt reenac- to celebrate the centennial with Buckeye notably Roose- tor Joe Wiegand velt’s Ride, year-long events and activities, Most Significant Event(s): featuring a Teddy Roosevelt re- from children’s story times at the Incorporation is considered to be enactor who will travel along the libraries to a big holiday celebra- the most significant event in the Apache Trail in a vintage auto and tion in Historic Avondale at the history of the Town of Buckeye, meet and speak to groups. end of the year. Avondale will kick because, as noted by town staff, “it off its centennial celebrations with pulled together people from all Avondale A Tale of Two Cities, a joint parade over the area and got them focus- Most Significant Event(s): Avon- and festival hosted by the cities ing on the same future.” dale has come a long way from its of Avondale and Goodyear on Continued on page 6 Message From the Chair ..................... 2 Arizona Centennial (continued) ............ 6 Household Travel Survey Report .......... 3 Freeway Milestones ........................... 13 IN SIDE Regional Profile: Mayor Georgia Lord .... 4 Border Trips ....................................... 14 Domestic Violence Efforts Funded ....... 5 Prop 400 Performance Audit .............. 15 this issue Calendar ......................................... 16 Message From the Chair MAG Regional Council Members ould you name Arizona’s larg- voices the intent to jointly advocate Executive Committee Members C est bilateral trading partner? to the Arizona Congressional Del- Mayor Hugh Hallman Many Valley residents might be egation for increased staffing for Tempe, Chair Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers surprised to learn that trading the Arizona/Mexico ports of entry. Avondale, Vice Chair with Mexico accounts for nearly This includes not only the ports Mayor Scott Smith $30 million crossing our borders in Nogales but also in San Luis. Mesa, Treasurer every single day. It is estimated Regional planning organizations Vice Mayor Thelda Williams that $7.3 million is spent each day in Southeast Arizona and Yuma Phoenix, At-Large Member Mayor in Arizona by Mexican visitors. also are expected to support the Mayor Jim Lane Scottsdale, At-Large Member Hugh Hallman resolution. Mayor Michael LeVault City of Tempe While immigration issues tend Youngtown, At-Large Member to capture the news headlines, Mexico currently is considering Mayor Thomas Schoaf a much bigger story is found in improvements to the seaport at Litchfield Park, Past Chair the benefits of legal commercial Punta Colonet, which could signifi- entry coming across our southern cantly increase freight coming into Councilmember Robin Barker border. Other Western border Arizona. This is just one additional Apache Junction states, such as Texas, have recog- reason that Arizona is actively seek- Mayor Jackie Meck Buckeye nized the importance of this trade. ing a designation of the Interstate Mayor David Schwan Texas exports $72.6 billion worth 11 (I-11) corridor to Las Vegas. Carefree of products to Mexico each year, Not only would I-11 connect the Councilmember Dick Esser while Arizona exports $5.1 billion. two metro areas—the largest in the Cave Creek The Texas commercial ports of nation not currently connected by Mayor Jay Tibshraeny entry have the staffing resources to an interstate—it potentially would Chandler operate for longer periods of time clear a path to destinations farther Mayor Lana Mook when compared to the Arizona north into the Pacific Northwest. El Mirage President Clinton Pattea commercial ports of entry. Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Ensuring efficiency at the border Mayor Jay Schlum Before we can effectively enhance translates to effective transporta- Fountain Hills the flow of commerce from Mexico tion of goods and services. The Mayor Ron Henry through Arizona, however, it is increased transportation of goods Gila Bend necessary to improve the infra- translates to jobs locally. Governor Greg Mendoza Gila River Indian Community structure in Mexico leading up to Mayor John Lewis the Arizona ports. In February, the There is much at stake. We need Gilbert Joint Planning Advisory Council, to assist our border communities Mayor Elaine M. Scruggs which includes MAG, the Central so that Arizona can be globally Glendale Arizona Association of Govern- competitive. Let’s start with the Mayor Georgia Lord ments, and the Pima Association of low-hanging fruit. Let’s focus on Goodyear Governments, is expected to con- a statewide effort to improve the Mayor Yolanda Solarez sider a resolution that will advocate Guadalupe transportation corridor along Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox highway and rail infrastructure 189. We can achieve this if the Maricopa County that supports our Arizona/Mexico State Legislature returns High- Mayor Scott LeMarr ports of entry. This includes im- way User Revenue Funding that Paradise Valley provements to infrastructure such has been swept for other uses. If Mayor Bob Barrett as an alternative to State Route 189 we are bold enough to seize the Peoria near the Nogales port and restor- opportunities before us, we can Mayor Gail Barney Queen Creek ing the Wellton Branch rail line for transform the economic landscape freight and Amtrak service. It also President Diane Enos of Arizona. Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Mayor Sharon Wolcott Hugh Hallman Surprise Mayor, City of Tempe, Regional Council Mayor Adolfo Gamez Chair Tolleson 1912-2012 Mayor Kelly Blunt Dennis Smith, Executive Director Wickenburg MAGAZine is a quarterly newsletter of the Maricopa Associa- Leila Gamiz, Vladimir Livshits, Nathan Victor Flores and Felipe Zubia tion of Gov ern ments. It focuses on the is sues and concerns of Pryor, Renae Tenney, Contributors Arizona Department of Transportation the cities, towns and tribal com mu ni ties of Maricopa Coun ty. Kelly Taft, Editor F. Rockne Arnett If you know of a friend or colleague who would like to receive Citizens Transportation Gordon Tyus, Graphic Design MAGAZine, please call the MAG office, (602) 254-6300. Oversight Committee Visit www.azmag.gov and click on Regional Council. Page 2 MAGAZine Household Travel Survey Reveals Trends in Regional Travel Patterns ost of the vehicle trips we travel? What factors form people’s of work-related trips is dropping as Mmake in our region are travel behavior? The survey data overall daily household trip rates for non-work related purposes, provide insight to these questions continue to increase. An average constituting about 90 percent of and inform MAG’s regional fore- household in the region makes the travel in our region. How- cast,” said Anderson, who noted more than 10 trips on a weekday ever, with an average one-way trip that the survey data are already and more than 13 trips on Satur- length of more than 12 miles, we being used in MAG regional travel days, which combined constitute also often drive more miles to forecasting models, which help one of the highest household trip work than for other purposes. decision makers plan future trans- rates in the nation. The average portation needs. trip length varies substantially Those are just a few of the findings across the region, depending on in a recently-completed detailed So what drives people’s travel the socioeconomic characteristics analysis of the 2008-2009 National behavior in our region? Findings of households, availability and Household Travel Survey for the indicate that the vast majority of nature of employment, transpor- MAG region. More than 4,700 trips occur for non-work related tation infrastructure and other households in the MAG region purposes, but contribution of work factors. answered questions about travel trips to the vehicle-miles traveled patterns, travel decisions and so- on regional roads is disproportion- The final report will be published cioeconomic household character- ally high. While about two-thirds on the MAG website in late Febru- istics. Analysts have spent the past of all trips were less than six miles ary.