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By Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb
Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer
Pinal County is a great place to live and work but the challenges created by our current roads and freeways not only make commuters late for dinner, these problems also make our county less safe.
Propositions 416 and 417 would create $640 million worth of new roads and freeways in Pinal County. In addition to solving current and future traffic problems all over Pinal County, this project will also help reduce response times for sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, police officers, and ambulances.
Minutes matter for first responders. Lives are put in danger when an ambulance driver is stuck in traffic. Public safety is threatened when a sheriff’s deputy is delayed in getting to a call for help. Lives and property are in harm’s way when firefighters have to contend with traffic jams.
The new infrastructure created by Propositions 416 and 417 will also will help to reduce the number of fatal crashes in our county, which have been increasing significantly in recent years.
Let us share with you one example. Maricopa doesn’t have a major regional hospital. Residents in need must be transported to Casa Grande or Chandler. So what happens when Highway 347 is jammed up along with I-10? This new plan widens the 347 from 4 to 6 lanes and provides a new highway between Casa Grande and Maricopa, reducing reliance on I-10. Go to www.yeson416and417.com and check out all the roads and freeways Propositions 416 and 417 will provide. From Apache Junction to Mammoth and Superior and SaddleBrooke to San Tan and Florence, the improvements are dramatic.
And while we speak to the public safety improvements, think of all the other improvements to your quality of life. Not being late for your kid’s or grandkid’s plays or games. Getting home for dinner on time. Not being stuck on I-10 forever. Enjoying open roads rather than clogged arterials. This vote on November 7th is a boon for Pinal County commerce and your quality of life.
We are proud to join nearly two dozen community leaders in filing ballot statements in support of Propositions 416 and 417. Supporters include mayors from every corner of Pinal County as well as Democrats, Republicans, elected officials and business leaders.
This carefully crafted transportation plan addresses transportation concerns in every corner of the county, allowing motorists faster and safer ways to travel north to south and east to west. There is also funding for Dial-a-Ride services that help seniors and the disabled.
You don’t have to be a lawyer or a lawman to realize our current roads and freeway system needs some serious infrastructure. Props 416 and 417 provide that infrastructure for a half cent increase in the sales tax. The average cost per resident is less than 25 cents a day.
Please join us in voting yes on Propositions 416 and 417. End gridlock, improve public safety, and give Pinal County the roads and freeways it deserves.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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