FINAL REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1334

license tax; alternative fuel vehicles

(NOW: transportation facilities construction plan)

Purpose

Requires the Arizona Department of Transportation to develop a 20-year transportation plan and allows for the purchase of rights-of-way for projects identified in the plan.

Background

Currently, statute requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to develop a five-year transportation facilities construction program. A departmental committee reviews the lists of projects and recommends projects for further evaluation to determine their feasibility, estimated costs, and anticipated schedules. It also annually recommends which evaluated projects should be placed into the five-year program.

In a 1997 performance audit conducted by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), the OAG determined that ADOT develops a 20-year plan as a general policy document that provides information on the status and future needs of the State’s transportation system. The plan is not project-specific or cost-constrained. The OAG recommended that ADOT better link short-range programming decisions to long-range priorities by explicitly considering ADOT’s long-term transportation priorities and goals when developing recommendations for projects and funding allocations for the five-year program. S.B. 1334 requires ADOT to develop a 20-year transportation facilities construction plan in addition to the five-year transportation program.

Laws 1989, Chapter 222, authorized ADOT to contract for right-of-way acquisitions that obligate payment of state monies up to ten years prior to estimated completion date of construction. This legislation would allow ADOT to purchase rights-of-way for projects identified in the 20-year transportation facilities construction plan.

There is no determinable fiscal impact with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires ADOT to develop a 20-year transportation facilities construction plan in consultation with the state transportation board on or before July 1, 2003.

2. Requires the 20-year transportation plan to:

§ detail estimated engineering, right-of-way and construction expenditures;

§ describe each project, location and priority;

§ list and group projects by priority and beginning date;

§ be compatible with local general and county comprehensive plans;

§ include updating procedures and guidelines for the 20-year plan.

3. Allows ADOT to purchase rights-of-way for projects identified in the 20-year transportation plan.

4. Allows the ADOT Director to use the remainder portion of a parcel taken for rights-of-way for relocated utility or irrigation facilities.

5. Prohibits the plaintiff or the ADOT Director from initiating any eminent domain proceeding with respect to the same project for at least two years after the date of judgment or verdict if the plaintiff causes a condemnation action to be dismissed prior to payment.

6. Provides for a general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

1. Adopted a strike everything amendment.

Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole

1. Enables ADOT to acquire properties for utility or irrigation facilities.

Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives

1. Specifies restrictions for dismissal of condemnation actions.

Senate Action House Action

TRANS 2/10/00 DPA 6-0-1 TRANS 3/7/00 DP 7-0-0-2

3^rd Read 2/23/00 29-0-0-1 3^rd Read 3/20/00 58-0-2

Signed by the Governor 4/3/00

Chapter 123

Prepared by Senate Staff

April 11, 2000