The Corridors of the Future Program is one of the Department of Transportation’s initiatives aimed at reducing traffic congestion by using public and private resources. The strategy includes building new roads and adding lanes to existing roads, building truck-only lanes and bypasses, and integrating real-time traffic technology, like lane management, that can match available capacity on roads to changing traffic demands.
Secretary Mary Peter announced yesterday that I-10 will receive $8.6 million in funding to implement its development plan. The application was submitted by Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The DOT and the states will work to finalize formal agreements by spring 2008 that will detail the commitments of the federal, state, and local governments involved.
“This is great news for Arizona’s busiest interstate,” stated Rep. Grijalva. “The designation opens up funding opportunities in order to improve the infrastructure of the highway.”
Earlier this year, Congressman Grijalva, coordinating with local infrastructure planning consultant Joe Herrick hosted a roundtable discussion and community tour for federal, state, and local government and business representatives in order to encourage local support for this initiative.
The selection of the I-10 corridor is the culmination of a year long process. The Department of Transportation initially received 38 proposals, and, in February 2007, selected 14 projects located on 8 major transportation corridors to participate in Phase 2 of the competition. Rep. Grijalva met with Secretary Peters earlier this summer to discuss this proposal and other infrastructure needs in Southern Arizona.
In addition to Interstate 10, an application submitted by Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah for Interstate 15 also received corridor designation.