ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Thurs., Nov. 1, 2007
Marana deserves kudos for pact on I-10 interchange
Our view: Town's agreement with group of private developers is worthy of emulation
In a region growing as rapidly as Pima County, the town of Marana and private developers may be breaking new ground in a partnership agreement that demonstrates how major road-construction projects can be built without state funds. A group of private developers agreed to finance roughly $40 million to design and build a major interchange at I-10 north of the existing Tangerine Road exit. The new exit and accompanying loop road will provide access to a huge retail and commercial development planned for the area.
State money for such projects is scarce because construction costs have increased and too many road projects are competing for attention from the Arizona Department of Transportation's finite budget.
Sales tax dollars are the blood in Marana's veins.
This is clearly a good deal for the developers, but it also benefits the town and the Arizona Department of Transportation since it relieves taxpayers in other parts of the state of any responsibility for improving I-10 in Marana.
This is a new approach in Pima County, though it has been done in Maricopa County at the new community of Anthem, north of Phoenix. Such public-private financing agreements may well become the model for how such road improvements are handled in the future.
FULL OPINION: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/209224