Thor Anderson

The board meeting primarily focused on infrastructure and transportation concerns in rural areas. Local mayors and residents expressed gratitude for recent emergency road repairs and the board's efforts in addressing road conditions on the rim and highways. Discussions included the necessity of increased funding for ongoing maintenance, the importance of adding passing lanes for safety, and the value of continued collaboration between local municipalities and the board. Additionally, the meeting included standard procedural items such as a roll call, a briefing on Title VI civil rights compliance, and public comment sessions.

The meeting included the welcome and introduction of a new board member and discussions regarding transportation projects. Key topics included a proposal for smart funding to design a connection for John Wesley Powell Boulevard in Flagstaff, and plans for roundabout improvements at the junction of State Route 89A and State Route 179 in Sedona to enhance safety and connectivity. Additionally, residents expressed concerns regarding the proposed Loop 303 overpass at 155th Avenue, citing issues with notification processes, project classification, potential environmental impacts, and a lack of transparency regarding alternative design options.

The committee discussed and acted upon several project items related to the Jackrabbit Trail Traffic Interchange, including budget modifications for two separate project components. The committee also received a Program Monitoring Report, noted that there were no AZ Smart applications to review, and concluded the meeting following the consideration of project modifications and new projects.

The meeting addressed several agenda items related to project funding and modifications. Key discussions included the approval of the minutes from the May 1, 2024 meeting. For A-SMART applications, the committee approved funding requests for Navajo County for design and engineering services for bridge reconstruction projects, and match funding for Coconino County's Local Road Safety Plan, which seeks to achieve a zero deaths goal. Several project modifications were reviewed, including the approval of funding for a Pima County construction project obligation, the removal of the un-funded Yum Street Bridge project from the five-year program, approval for increased construction funding for lighting installation on Main Street in Eagar, an extension for the Kitek Linkage Wildlife Crossing project to secure tribal concurrence, approval for design phase changes for a project (t478), a decrease in budget for a deferred work scope on I-10 (RIGS Road to State Route 387), an increase in construction funding for a local project with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and a budget transfer for SR30 Right of Way Acquisitions. The meeting concluded with a discussion regarding intersection improvements for item 8-10.

The meeting commenced with roll call and a public notice regarding the agency's policy to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Key discussions included the approval of draft minutes from a previous meeting. A significant portion of the meeting involved a monitoring report discussion, noting approximately $300 million in unprogrammed line items needing programming before June 30th, with board action likely required by April. The committee reviewed one asmart application from the City of Globe for Broad Street (US60/Ash Street to Jesse Hayes Road) demonstration assessments, requesting $31,200 in match funding for temporary safety elements like solar-powered pedestrian beacons and crosswalk surfaces, intended to lead to permanent installations later. Additionally, the committee discussed establishing a new project for data-driven safety software, 'New Metric' by Asare, to replace the sunsetted 'Safety Analyst' tool, involving a first-year budget request of $926,000 for implementation and license fees. The need for coordination with the MPD Data Analytics group regarding data preparation was also addressed.