MAG agreement will reimburse Mesa for road project costs

Mesa has entered into an agreement with the Maricopa Association of Governments that will allow the city to be reimbursed for part of an $11.4 million road project.

The Mesa City Council unanimously approved entering a project agreement with MAG to be reimbursed for 70% of the total cost of the Country Club Drive: U.S. 60 to Southern Avenue Project.

The agreement was on the council’s consent agenda in which all items are handled through one motion and vote.

The Country Club Drive project is part of MAG’s Arterial Life Cycle Program which the organization approved in June. Funds for the program are administered by the Arizona Department of Transportation and disbursed when MAG presents an approved invoice as provided in the project agreement.

In November 2024, voters in Maricopa County approved the continuation of a half-cent sales tax to fund implementation of the Regional Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Investment Plan that includes revenue allocation for major arterial street projects such as the one slated for Country Club Drive.

“This project was not originally included in the (Arterial Life Cycle Program). The city subsequently coordinated with MAG in 2025 to reallocate funding from projects that could not be completed within the Proposition 400 funding timeframe, preserving funds that otherwise would have lapsed,” according to a staff report.

At an Oct. 22 study session, Erik Guderian, transportation department director, told the council that the money for the project needs to be used by June 2028.

“Engineering is just finishing up the design of this project, so I’m not exactly sure when we’re going to be going to construction. It’ll be sometime in next year. There’s some coordination with SRP that still has to be finalized,” he said. “The agreement with MAG is that as we expend money we can then go and get reimbursement on a monthly or quarterly basis of 70% of what we spend.”

The cost of the Country Club Drive project is more than $11.4 million. Under the MAG agreement, Mesa will be reimbursed $7.9 million with the city’s share coming in at $3.4 million.

The project will improve Country Club Drive between U.S. 60 and Southern Avenue by reconstructing the pavement, upgrading sidewalks, ramps, driveways and transit stops for accessibility, the report continued.

The Country Club Drive: U.S. 60 to Southern Avenue Project will also modernize traffic signals and traffic-management equipment, as well as install raised medians.

“The project will also add a signalized pedestrian crossing with a protected waiting area in the new median approximately 850 feet south of Southern Avenue,” the report stated.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.