Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly wants the federal government to give the green light to more work on portions of Interstate 11, which is planned to connect Phoenix to Las Vegas.
The I-11 project is designed to ultimately be a corridor stretching all the way from Canada to Mexico. And in Arizona it will, ideally, relieve residents’ reliance on I-10.
The Federal Highway Administration is working on an environmental impact statement (EIS) for southern sections of the proposed interstate.
Kelly reached out to the agency head, Sean McMaster, on Monday to ask whether ADOT can get started on any preparatory work on the portions of the corridor between Wickenburg and Casa Grande.
I-11 will go from Las Vegas through Wickenburg, Buckeye, Casa Grande and Tucson, then stretch all the way to Nogales on the southern border.
The I-11 project has been in the works for many years. ADOT worked on a Tier 1 EIS in 2016, which took six years to complete. However, conservation groups sued ADOT and the Federal Highway Administration in 2021, arguing the EIS was inadequate.
A judicial stay is in place, keeping planning at a standstill for the Nogales-to-Wickenburg corridor as the Tier 1 EIS is being reevaluated.
That Tier 1 assessment doesn’t include certain details that will be covered in a separate Tier 2 EIS.
The state Legislature provided funding for the Tier 2 EIS in 2022.
But, the Federal Highway Administration and ADOT are holding off on publishing a Notice of Intent for the Tier 2 EIS while the federal agency reevaluates the Tier 1 evaluation.
“While it is important for the legal process to be completed and any deficiencies with the Tier 1 EIS rectified, it is also important for Arizona to understand what actions may lawfully occur as the litigation proceeds so that ADOT and FHWA initiate formal work on a Tier 2 EIS for the portions of I-11 north of Casa Grande as quickly as legally possible,” Kelly wrote to McMaster.
He is requesting clarity within 60 days so that Arizona can “preserve lawful project readiness” without overstepping.
Kelly posed a series of questions, including what limitations exist on funding for ADOT while the judicial stay remains in effect.
He also asks whether ADOT is authorized to do any pre-engineering work like surveying and identifying roadway alternatives during this waiting period.
Kelly also asked McMaster to schedule a meeting between the agency, ADOT officials and his office to discuss the agency’s responses to his questions.
“The opportunities presented by the Interstate 11 project from Casa Grande to the Hoover Dam are significant for the future of Arizona. Your assistance in providing a clear path forward will help the state take actionable steps to advance this critical project in as timely a manner as possible,” Kelly wrote.
-
Gateway is one of the first 13 airports to offer Gateside by TSA Precheck, which allows non-travelers to pass through security to access restaurants, shops or to visit with friends and family. -
The investment goes toward modernizing the around 55 mile long stretch between the Lukeville-Sonoyta border crossing into Arizona and Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point. -
Arizona drivers can expect to spend much more at the pump this year compared to last. -
Phoenix has now covered 200 miles of city streets with cool pavement. The city has been applying the light, reflective coating since 2020 with the goal of reducing the urban heat island effect.
-
The Arizona Department of Transportation has opened a new tunnel as part of a project to construct a free-flowing interchange that will reduce delays on the main route between Phoenix and Las Vegas.
