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Opinion

Christ: Vote yes on Prop 469

Posted 10/25/22

As a business owner and former president of Pinal Partnership, which was formed to increase economic development opportunities and our quality of life, I have not only witnessed Pinal County’s …

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Opinion

Christ: Vote yes on Prop 469

Posted

As a business owner and former president of Pinal Partnership, which was formed to increase economic development opportunities and our quality of life, I have not only witnessed Pinal County’s rapid growth but also the lingering traffic problems that need attention now. We just can’t wait any longer.

Without the new roads and freeways funded by Proposition 469, our traffic will go from really bad to worse, job creators will look elsewhere, and first responders will get stuck in traffic.

The new infrastructure will help lure new companies to the area creating more local jobs so fewer residents will have to commute. The projects include the Casa Grande Connector project that involves four lanes from the city of Casa Grande to the future alignment of the North-South Corridor Parkway to the east, located in the city of Coolidge. This system allows residents to travel north to south and east to west in Pinal County without the gridlock.

This transportation plan was written so that every part of Pinal County benefits. There is also a long list of projects designed to keep traffic moving in every community in Pinal County, as well as funding for dial-a-ride services, which help seniors and the disabled.

As the owner of Windmill Winery in Florence, I feel this infrastructure will help local businesses attract more customers as well as move goods and services. It will sure make it easier to get to my business just as it will for thousands of others in Pinal County.

The transportation plan and its funding were approved by Pinal County voters in 2017. Unfortunately, Phoenix special interests convinced the Arizona Supreme Court to rescind the funding earlier this year, while leaving the transportation plan in place. Prop 469 simply reauthorizes the funds. It is not a tax hike. And it is modeled after the way other counties in Arizona fund critical new roads and freeways.

Now is the time to finally end the gridlock and begin a new era for Pinal County. Please vote yes on Proposition 469.

Harold Christ