The Bureau of Land Management recently signed a Record of Decision that will allow Goodyear to build the proposed Sonoran Valley Parkway in Maricopa County largely on public lands.

The parkway will provide a direct route in southern Goodyear connecting Rainbow Valley Road to the community of Mobile and State Route 238, improving emergency response times in the fastest growing county in the nation.

The Goodyear Fire Department has a station in the Mobile community, some 24 miles south of the southern- most residential areas of Goodyear.

The decision furthers Trump administration priorities of modernizing infrastructure, supporting economic development and job growth, and increasing access to recreational opportunities on public lands, a release states.

“Above all, the federal government’s job is to keep our people safe and respect our neighbors. Today we are proudly fulfilling both of those missions,” said Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Joe Balash. “This project will improve emergency response times, which means lives will be saved. Additionally, the community will enjoy increased access to recreation and position the City of Goodyear for economic success well into the future.”

The ROD was signed Friday, providing the rationale for the BLM’s decision to grant the 250-foot wide right-of way for the two-lane parkway, with potential for future expansion. The ROD and other available project materials can be found at go.usa.gov/xP9zF.

Once the BLM grants the right-of-way, Goodyear would need to finalize the parkway’s design. Construction of the first two lanes is estimated to take about 32 months. Expansion beyond a two-lane parkway would require further authorizations from the BLM and would be subject to additional environmental review.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of the right-of-way was first published March 22.