Tragic incident highlights infrastructure challenges in north Surprise

As many of you know, a member of our community tragically lost his life when a homicide occurred on July 27 just north of the intersection of 163rd Avenue and U.S. 60/Grand Avenue.

This tragic incident resulted in the closure of north and southbound 163rd Avenue between Grand Avenue and Pat Tillman Boulevard to allow our police investigators to conduct a thorough investigation of the crime scene.

Although there is no denying the road closures had a significant impact on all of us who live in the area, I believe we all can agree that if this crime was perpetrated against one of our family members, we would want the same level of thoroughness and attentiveness put into the investigation.

I want to acknowledge our investigators on scene for displaying a high level of professionalism and attention to detail while processing the scene in extreme heat and for their quick and diligent work taking a suspect into custody. I also want to extend my condolences to the family suffering the loss of their loved one. Out of respect for the victim and his family, I did not find it appropriate to talk about what I am going to address with you all now: infrastructure challenges.

Since taking office last year, I have had an opportunity to talk to so many of you about the infrastructure challenges our area is facing. I committed to you that I would work to advance planning and secure funding for long-term solutions, while also working to secure interim solutions that would provide more immediate relief.

We have taken great steps towards this since I took office, including the restriping along the U.S. 60 and Loop 303 corridor to provide additional lanes of travel and congestion mitigation, the 163rd Avenue widening project, the Happy Valley Road expansion project that is in design, the addition of several traffic signals to help facilitate the flow of traffic, and more. While I do believe these interim improvements have and will continue to provide us relief, they are in no way a long-term solution for our northwest area.

Our area needs additional access points. When incidents like on July 27 occur, that need is even further highlighted. I know many of you are frustrated and upset, and as your neighbor, I feel the same way. When I say I am committed to bringing the long-term solutions that our area needs, I mean it. I live here too.

Several long-term solutions that will impact to our area and our city, are programmed into Prop. 479, which will go to Maricopa County voters in the November election. If approved, Prop. 479 would extend the half-cent sales tax for transportation for another 20 years, becoming the funding mechanism for these large-scale solutions.

Surprise projects identified in Prop. 479 include, but are not limited to, a new traffic interchange at Loop 303 and Litchfield Road; the ultimate interchange buildout at U.S. 60 and Loop 303; improvements and possible grade separation of U.S. 60 and 163rd Avenue; and an extension of El Mirage Road from Loop 303 to Jomax Road.

As I have said before, it is important that when discussing these projects, I am transparent with you all. These are major projects that will expand connectivity and enhance public safety, but as with any major project, they will take time.

Our northwest area is long overdue for solutions and cannot afford for us to sit back and do nothing. Currently, I am working with city staff to aggressively pursue even more immediate solutions for emergency access points to our area.

Staff is currently studying the feasibility of several improvements that could bring alternate routes to our northern area with a more expedited time frame compared to the more long-term projects mentioned earlier. Staff is looking at all options fully within the city’s purview for speed of construction.

I will provide you additional updates regarding this effort in the near future to keep you fully aware of our progress on this. Additionally, we will be seeking legislative options this upcoming session to bring additional funding for solutions to our area.

Ultimately, as I have said before, words are meaningless without action behind them. Although action is being taken, it does not take away from the frustration of having to fight through extensive delays and detours when leaving or returning home.

It does not take away from so many of you feeling trapped when an incident occurs. My commitment to you is to work through these challenges to bring the change our area needs and to communicate with you as honestly and transparently as possible throughout the process.

These challenges did not happen overnight; therefore, they cannot be solved overnight. However, they can be solved.

They can be solved by working together and pushing forward in the same direction with proactive and positive problem solving. Cynicism and division hold no power over what we can accomplish when we work together.

We must continue to recognize the progress we have made, not as a crutch, but instead as a springboard to bringing additional solutions to our area. I will continue to work hard to improve the lives of all of you.

Nick Haney is the city councilmember for District 1. This was an email message he sent to residents of his district. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.