Diverse and Deep Support for Prop. 479 Helps to Secure Victory for Increased Transportation Options in Maricopa County
Business, community, consumer, disability, environmental, faith, public health, senior citizens and veterans’ entities, as well as elected officials from each major political party, municipality and tribal government in Maricopa County, celebrated the passage of Prop. 479, which continues Maricopa County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation for twenty years.
As passed by voters, 40.5 percent of the half-cent sales tax will be allocated to freeways and other routes in the state highway system; 37 percent to public transportation such as bus, vanpool, and dial-a-ride services; and 22.5 percent to arterial streets, intersection improvements and regional transportation infrastructure.
Diane E. Brown, Executive Director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona PIRG) and convenor of the Coalition for Transportation Choices, stated, “While each entity and each voter may have had different reasons for supporting Prop. 479, the common thread is consumers want and voted for more transportation options.” Leading up to Election Day, Arizona PIRG distributed their organization’s perspective titled Why Maricopa County Voters Should Vote Yes & Urge Others to Vote Yes on Prop. 479.
Danny Seiden, President & CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, added, “With the passage of Prop 479, voters have secured a critical investment in Arizona’s future growth by extending funding for essential transportation infrastructure. This measure ensures that crucial improvements to highways, roads, and public transit stay on track—leading to faster commutes, less congestion, and a transportation network that moves our economy forward.” The Arizona Chamber previously offered their take on Prop. 479 in Chamber Business News.
According to David M. Martin, President of the Arizona Chapter of Associated General Contractors (AGC), “Prop. 479’s transportation improvements are expected to create and support over 30,000 new long-term jobs and increase local business sales by over $112 billion. In addition, the transportation improvements included in Prop. 479 are designed to make our communities and our roads safer, without raising taxes.” Prior to Election Day, AGC created a Voter Tools landing page which included comprehensive information on Prop 479.
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) developed the components of Prop. 479 after over 500 constituency and community meetings and presentations. The Plan was unanimously approved to go to voters by MAG’s Regional Council, which is comprised of mayors and elected officials from each municipality in the region, and enabled to be on the ballot by the Arizona State Legislature and Governor Katie Hobbs.
JoAnna Strother, Senior Director for Advocacy for the American Lung Association, said, “As one of the top counties in the U.S. for ozone pollution, Maricopa County needs to do all it can to reduce harmful impacts to our air and our health. Expansion of active transportation and public transit ranked high on the list of residents’ input for inclusion in Prop. 479 and the related measures incorporated in Prop. 479 are an important step in the right direction.”
Paid for by Arizona PIRG, Inc.