Sun: Maricopa County voters deserve proper transportation plan

If the Legislature fails to send a negotiated and sensible extension of Proposition 400 to the ballot in 2024, all of Arizona will see immediate harm, not just Maricopa County, the fastest-growing region in the nation.

This is a crucial piece of legislation that people rely on for their transit and transportation infrastructure needs, particularly in the greater Phoenix area. After former Gov. Ducey's inexplicable about-face veto of bipartisan legislation last year, and anti-transit hysterics from the far right this year, the pathway to getting the proposal to the ballot is becoming increasingly onerous. There are two extremely watered-down versions that have had a hearing this year, but the far right has failed to acknowledge my introduced bill House Bill 2527, that has near unanimous democratic support and is the language the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council pushed for after the veto. Time is running out to ensure a consistent funding source that would provide the infrastructure to accommodate the vast growth this region will see in the future. Arizona's economy is at risk.

MAG's proposition builds off of decades of transportation projects: creating and connecting freeways as well as arterial lanes, improving traffic interchanges, satisfying air quality standards, and connecting additional neighborhoods to jobs, education and opportunity via light rail. This is the primary source of funding for transportation in Maricopa County, but also indirectly creates additional funds for all of Arizona because smaller communities won't have to compete with the state's population center for transportation resources. The initial funding structure was approved by voters in 1985 and passed the ballot again in 2004.

Voters deserve their say again.

The original proposition gave us vital freeway miles such as Loops 101, 202 and State Route 51. Historically, this funding has built 300 miles of new freeways, hundreds of miles of street investments, and funded our first county-wide transit system. According to the Maricopa Association of Government's transportation plan, more than 85% of Arizona's commodities are transported by trucks, parcel, postal service, or deliveries by a courier, which all use these roads. Additionally, four out of every five jobs in Maricopa County are within two miles of a freeway or light rail corridor. To not continue this tax would hamstring our existing infrastructure as more population growth arrives, causing further road congestion, hindering safety measures and reducing transportation access overall.

Not only are we jeopardizing billions in federal matching funds, but also the infrastructure and transportation needs of over 4.5 million people. Without the revenue from the half-cent sales tax, Maricopa County would have to tap into funds traditionally allocated to other parts of the state just to maintain its baseline. If far right lawmakers callously allow the current Proposition 400 funding to expire without an extension, it would have a detrimental impact to the entire state.  These same lawmakers express philosophical opposition to adequately funding public transit in Maricopa County, but it's no coincidence this would mostly impact Democratic- leaning districts. Lawmakers must set politics aside and do what's best for Arizona — all of it. Negotiating to further degrade the integrity of the MAG Regional Council unanimously approved plan would risk the future of Arizona's economy.

These are the roads and services we use daily to access schools, our jobs, places of worship, grocery stores, healthcare, and recreation; all the necessities we need to live our lives. Giving Maricopa County voters the opportunity to continue cultivating the revenue needed and implementing the plan should be a bipartisan effort. Funding our roads and public transit options is one of the fundamental responsibilities of government and our constituents rely on us to build and maintain these services. This issue demands immediate action. If we fail to address it, we will jeopardize vital infrastructure expansion and funding for decades to come.

Rep. Leezah Sun is a Democrat representing District 22, which includes portions of west Phoenix, Tolleson and Avondale.