By Howard Fischer
Mail | X: @azcapmedia

PHOENIX — A decision by President Trump to suspend already approved federal funds for some projects could set back plans to ease the trip between Phoenix and the rest of southern and central Arizona.

If nothing else, it could force Arizona taxpayers to pick up the difference of at least $95 million.

In an executive order signed shortly after he took office on Monday, the new president directed government agencies to “immediately pause the disbursement of funds” approved both through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act as well as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Both measures contain billions of federal dollars earmarked for projects in states and cities — including highway expansion.

The move did not go unnoticed by Congressman Greg Stanton, who sent a letter to Judith Kaleta, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. He specifically asked about federal dollars for the plan to widen about 26 miles of Interstate 10 between Queen Creek Road on the edge of Chandler to State Route 287 outside Casa Grande to three lanes in each direction. That matches what already exists on either side of the segment.

All that comes with a price tag that exceeds $1 billion. At least $95 million of that supposed to come in the form of a grant from USDOT from the infrastructure bill.

But that’s likely not all of the federal dollars going to the project. Officials at the state Department of Transportation said Arizona gets other federal highway funds that are being programmed into the overall cost.

Work already has started, with the state counting on the feds for reimbursement.

“This project was a bipartisan priority — business leaders and elected officials at all levels of government, from rural, urban and tribal areas all coming together to push this over the finish line,” Stanton wrote. But the Democratic congressman said the state needs “clarification” of the meaning of Trump’s executive order and whether that allows the Federal Highway Administration to refuse to reimburse the state for the incurred costs.

The president’s action has gotten the attention of state lawmakers — particularly from the areas affected.

“I appreciate Congressman Stanton is looking out for that,” said Rep. Teresa Martinez.

But the Casa Grande Republican said the money is not officially gone — at least not yet.

“So I’m not going to freak out just yet,” she said.

Martinez, who has called the widening project crucial, said there is an ultimate fallback: Arizona taxpayers pick up the tab. “This highway is going to get widened one way or the other.

“It is going to get widened, whether it is state dollars or federal dollars,” Martinez continued.

That’s also the assessment of Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge.

“I’m not hitting the panic button,” he said. And Shope said he, too, is awaiting final word.

“I’m not convinced that it’s gone-gone,” he said.

If nothing else, he said, the good news is this isn’t a project that’s close to completion — and needs all the money right now.

“I think there’s still some time for Washington to figure out what they’re doing, whether it’s permanent or not permanent or it’s just up for review,” he said.

But, like Martinez, he’s convinced the project is too important to allow it to not be completed simply if the federal share dries up. And that means state tax dollars.

“There’s definitely the will to have to do that,’’ he said.

Gov. Katie Hobbs, who made the announcement last year of the $95 million grant, said she’s still looking for clarification of what the Trump order means.

The governor said, though, she has been given to believe that what the president is trying to excise from the federal spending are the energy projects, things like electric vehicle charging stations.

The state has been widening sections of the interstate, which stretches from Santa Monica, Calif., to Jacksonville, Fla., for years. But there have been issues with that last stretch.

Some has been funding. The Maricopa Association of Governments kicked in $221 million. But those dollars cannot be used for the portion of the project in Pinal County.

Then there were issues because much of the route runs through the Gila River Indian Community.

Shope said there were some bad feelings left over from when the road originally was built through the reservation with little tribal input. But he said Stephen Roe Lewis, the current governor of the community has been more involved.

If Arizona taxpayers have to kick in more dollars, it wouldn’t be the first time. Lawmakers have considered the widening so important they have agreed to allocate state funds to get the project started — with the anticipation of the dollars rolling in in the future.

Three years ago, for example, the Legislature approved $400 million out of the general fund to jump start this project. That happened because the state was flush with tax dollars, with a 17% year-over-increase in revenues.

But any plan to divert state tax dollars could provoke opposition. In that case, for example, then-Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita complained there were better uses for that much money, including tax cuts.

But Shope said this isn’t just any project.

“The Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce did a survey of residents,” he said at the time. “And, of those who were gainfully employed, around 60% of them traveled to Phoenix for work.”

Still, that $400 million wasn’t enough to complete the work. Even with that infusion, Hobbs last year said the state had just $692 million, plus the $221 from MAG, for that billion-dollar plus project.

Martinez said while she’s glad Stanton is asking questions — he is the only Arizonan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — she believes there’s also some politics involved.

“I believe that Congressman Stanton is trying to get us riled up,” she said. “I believe he is trying to instigate something to sow discord amongst the constituents, especially amongst the people like me who not only advocated and voted for President Trump but also want that I-10.”