From the Avra Valley Coalition
The Arizona Dept. of Transportation’s comment period for the Sonoran Corridor (not Interstate 11 – that closed June 2) closes July 12. While the Sonoran Corridor is east of I-19 and does not directly impact the Avra Valley, you will recall that on Chuck Huckelberry’s original Avra Valley I-11 map in 2013, what is now called the Sonoran Corridor was labeled I-11 and links to his proposed Avra Valley Route at II-19. So it would be appropriate for west-siders to comment. Here are some points to consider:
- The Sonoran Corridor was rejected by Pima County voters in the 2015 bond election. We refused to approve $30 million to begin the necessary study process that ADOT is now doing.
- The Sonoran Corridor has been touted as necessary to benefit Raytheon, the University of Arizona Tech Park, and the Tucson Airport. There is a public policy question as to using taxpayer dollars to benefit profitable enterprises. Raytheon’s annual net profit is $2.2 billion. Technically a non-profit, Tucson Airport Authority’s assets exceeded liabilities in 2014 by $365.7 million. The University Tech Park estimates its economic impact at $1.7 billion, generating $50 million in taxes. None need public assistance.
- If the will of the voters and the financial good fortune of the beneficiaries mean nothing, then the most appropriate corridor would be a reasonably straight east-west line linking I-10 and I-19. It should not add the costs of additional miles by dropping south before reaching I-19, an alternative proposed by Pima County which appears to be a violation of Arizona’s gift clause.
- The County Administrator’s proposed Pima County route would give a free access highway to an as-yet-unbuilt 3,000-acre Diamond Ventures Swan Southlands development. Don Diamond, a close ally of Chuck Huckelberry, raised at least $75,000 in legal and dark money campaign contributions for Huckelberry champion Sharon Bronson, Chair of the Board f Supervisors.
- A more-or-less straight line would need resolution with the Tohono O’odham Nation’s San Xavier District with whom the County says it has a “partnership.” If a straight line is not possible, the Sonoran Corridor could jog north along the Old Nogales Highway, then west to I-19 without infringing on the Nation.
- Another issue is Board of Supervisors Resolution 2007-343 which concludes, “… the Pima County Board of Supervisors opposes the construction of any new highways in or around the County that have the stated purpose of bypassing the existing Interstate 10 as it is believed that the environmental, historic, archaeological and urban form impacts could not be adequately mitigated.” Huckelberry has tried to get around that by calling the Sonoran Corridor bypass an “auxiliary interstate.”
Email: Sonorancorridor@azdot.gov
Toll-free bilingual information line: 855.712.8530
Mail: Sonoran Corridor Tier 1 EIS Study Team c/o ADOT Communications, 1655 W. Jackson St., Mail Drop 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007