FOR CAUCUS & FLOOR ACTION

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

NADINE BERRETT

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 542-3171

Facsimile: (602) 542-7833

TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

DATE: February 14, 2000

SUBJECT: Proposed Strike Everything Amendment to S.B. 1334

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. Provides for a general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

1. Adopted a strike everything amendment.

Senate Action

TRANS 2/10/00 DPA/SE 6-0-1

NB/cmh