By Rusty Bradshaw

Independent Newsmedia

A pair of Northwest Valley legislators is taking another run at obtaining enhanced public transportation in the area.

In her report to the Sun City Home Owners Association Board of Directors Nov. 28, Carole Studdard, SCHOA executive director said District 21 Rep. Kevin Payne (R-Peoria) and District 22 Rep. Ben Toma (R-Peoria) teamed up to form a “transportation coalition” to push for more public transportation in the Northwest Valley.

“There would be a tie-in with the Maricopa Association of Governments,” she said.

Mr. Payne confirmed a team effort is underway, but described it somewhat differently.

“In talking with constituents, I heard often the lack of public transportation is a serious issue for many of them,” said Mr. Payne, who was elected to the Arizona House in 2016. “I am just getting started with some research on this.”

Rich Gray, SCHOA board member and former Arizona representative, said Mr. Payne and Mr. Toma will be working with Northwest Valley Connect.

“Northwest Valley Connect is spreadheading the transportation efforts in the area,” he said.

Mr. Payne said he and Mr. Toma’s efforts will be to revive a 2013 MAG plan for a three-phased enhancement of Northwest Valley Transportation over a 15-year period that would start with neighborhood circculator routes in Northwest Valley communities and eventually include extended Valley Metro bus routes.

Jim Powell, SCHOA board member of the agency’s Roads and Safety Committee chairman, said Northwest Valley Connect and Benevilla have hosted regular transportation stakeholder meetings to try and find a path to begin work on the plan.

“There has been nothing new from what Benevilla and Northwest Valley Connect can do, it is just now that the legislature is getting involved,” he said.

Kevin Payne

Mr. Payne, a member of the Arizona Legislature’s Transportation Committee, said the 2013 MAG plan centered around a consortium of communities and groups working together to develop and implement the plan. He added MAG officials estimated it would cost $60,000 to get such a group organized. Funding would come from the communities and groups involved, according to Mr. Payne.

“We are still in the research mode right now,” Mr. Payne said. “I don’t think we can write laws to make them (MAG and Valley Metro) provide transportation, but we are hoping we can get all the parties working together.”

He plans to meet with MAG and Valley Metro officials to discuss the options for establishing the consortium.

“Without that consortium, there is no chance to get federal funds,” Mr. Payne said. “Those funds will be critical to getting that 2013 MAG plan going.”

The legislator was surprised the plan has not seen any activity since 2013.

“Four years seems like plenty of time to get something started,” he said.