Arizona drivers could pay more in taxes and fees to drive on the state’s freeways. It will take several billions of dollars to keep pace with the state’s increasing construction needs.
At a meeting Wednesday, members of the Surface Transportation Funding Task Force said it will take at least $20 billion to construct, widen and maintain the necessary freeways to meet the state’s growing needs. And that doesn’t include estimates of an additional $40 billion for other road projects.
Once the task force finalizes its recommendations, it will be up to Republican Senator Bob Worsley, the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee to sell the proposal to his colleagues.
"I think everybody thinks something should be done," Worsley said. "I think now is the time to do it. But I don't know what the political realities are yet."
Worsley said he’s convinced there’s enough interest on both sides of the aisle to get the necessary support.