Grassroots Surge: Activists Flood Lawmakers with 120,000 Emails on SR 347 and Counting

The website 347Facts.com recently achieved a significant milestone by sending approximately 120,000 emails concerning State Route 347 to Arizona’s lawmakers. This remarkable outreach underscores the pressing traffic issues faced by the City of Maricopa.

Website manager James Singleton confirmed the achievement, stating, “We’ve actually surpassed the 100,000 mark, approaching 120,000 emails sent to lawmakers and ADOT officials.” He noted that nearly 1,500 residents have filled out contact forms advocating for the widening of SR 347, as well as support for legislative measures HB 2557 and SB 1617.

Bill Robertson, a member of the committee behind 347Facts.com and a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, expressed a desire for community members to maintain their engagement. “We need to keep the pressure on,” he emphasized, highlighting the urgency to ensure Maricopa is included in the upcoming five-year transportation plan.

State transportation board members are scheduled to vote on this plan in two months, which prioritizes top transportation construction projects statewide. Currently, the proposal to widen 13 miles of SR 347 from the Interstate 10 overpass to the city limits is categorized as an “illustrative project.” This status indicates it could be considered for funding if additional financial support is secured.

Efforts to obtain more funding are ongoing, including a commitment of $20 million from Pinal County and a bid for $16.2 million from the state general budget through House Bill 2557, one of the supported measures in the community.