On December 11 the Arizona Daily Independent published an analysis of public comment on the proposed Interstate 11 showing that 89 percent of over 3000 comments opposed any route through the Avra Valley. Most preferred a “no build” option or use of the existing I-10 corridor, citing the threats to people and wildlife if a new highway were built west of the Tucson Mountains. Only about one-half of one percent of comments favored an Avra Valley route.
On December 12 Arizona Department of Transportation Senior Urban Engineer Aryan Lirange sent out emails inviting 63 selected “stakeholders” to participate in a series of “stakeholder engagement meetings” hosted by the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution to, as Lirange put it, “augment the ongoing public input effort.”
“The U.S. Institute will lead the design, facilitation, and documentation of the two sets of stakeholder engagement meetings to identify more specifics regarding individual community concerns and preferences for the purpose of informing the technical analysis and planning required for the I-11 Tier 1 EIS Corridor Study….
“The results of these group discussions will be summarized in a report prepared by the U.S. Institute, which will be provided to FHWA and ADOT for consideration in the I-11 Tier 1 EIS process…As with all public comments, the engagement meeting purpose is not to “vote” for a preference, but rather to generate information that would help FHWA and ADOT in making the decision regarding a Selected Alternative – whether it’s a Build Corridor Alternative or a No-Build Alternative. “
Curiously, some of the most directly affected communities – the sources of the overwhelming opposition to an Avra Valley I-11 – did not receive ADOT’s initial email invitation, even though they were on the list of invitees. After questions were raised, a second round of invitations went out.
Retired Avra Valley Coalition organizer Albert Lannon told ADI that “it looked like ADOT “is trying to make an end run around the public comment to see if they can get away with ignoring the will of the people. By trying to marginalize the true stakeholders – the people who live, work and recreate in the Avra Valley – they are only exposing their weakness and firming up our opposition.”
In fact, the process looks rigged. Lirange’s email had as an attachment a “nomination form” from which the I-11 Study Team will hand-pick those who can attend:
“Two groups of about 20 individuals will be identified from the list of nominees and will comprise the final list of participants. The size of each group will be limited to about 20 to allow robust levels of participation, and it is also desired that the groups represent a diverse set of organizations and viewpoints. If demand exceeds the available spots, FHWA and ADOT will confirm the final list of participants in an impartial manner to ensure diverse participation and representation of stakeholders. The nominees not selected to a group will be notified and invited to submit their feedback in written form.”
With two meetings of just 20 each, those groups representing 89 percent of over 3,000 commenters – from possibly a dozen of the 63 invited organizations – will be in a distinct minority. Invited business and corporate groups alone outnumber the opposition organizationally.
There is no question that the depth of opposition to an Avra Valley I-11 route similar to the one put forward five years ago by Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry is causing the I-11 planners some grief. This “stakeholder engagement meeting” ploy will do little to change minds, opponents say, and may, in fact, backfire.
List of invited groups:
Altar Valley Conservation Alliance
Amphitheater USD
Archaeology Southwest
Arizona Farm Bureau
Arizona Land and Water Trust
Arizona Youth Partnership
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Asarco
Avra Valley Coalition
Avra Valley Fire District
Avra Water Co-Op
Barrio Anita (Ward 1)
Barrio Hollywood (Ward 1)
Barrio Santa Rosa (Ward 5)
Brewer Caldwell Property Management
Cadden Community Management
CalPortland Cement
Caterpillar
Catholic Community Services
Citizens for Picture Rocks
Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
Community Food Bank of Marana
Continental Ranch Community Association
Defenders of Wildlife
Dove Mountain Homeowners Association
Downtown Tucson Partnership
Drachman Institute
El Presidio (Ward 1)
El Rio Acres (Ward 1)
Elks Lodge
Flowing Wells (Ward 3)
Flowing Wells USD
Ford Motor Company
Friends of Ironwood Forest
Friends of Saguaro National Park
Gladden Farms Community Association
Inland Kenworth
Interfaith Community Services
Marana Chamber of Commerce
Marana Heritage Conservancy
Marana Unified School District
Menlo Park (Ward 1)
Metropolitan Pima Alliance
National Parks Conservation Association
Northwest Fire District
Old Tucson Studios
Peach Properties
Picture Rocks Community Center
Redemptorist Renewal Center
Santa Rita Park (Ward 5)
Sierra Club – Rincon Group, Grand Canyon Chapter
Sonoran Institute
Southern Arizona Lodging & Resort Association
The Dude Rancher’s Association
Trico Electric COOP
Tucson Estates Property Owners Association
Tucson Hispanic Chamber
Tucson Metro Chamber
Tucson Premium Outlets
Tucson Urban League
Tucson USD
Veterans of Foreign Wars – Post 5990
Visit Tucson
Note: In ADI’s December 11 story on the public comments it was reported that ADI’s I-11 stories from the comment period had not been included in the media coverage appendix. That was quickly corrected and those stories are now part of the public record.