Maricopa’s Transportation Revolution: Two Key Bills Advance in State House

PHOENIX – Positive news emerged from the Arizona State Capitol as the House of Representatives successfully passed two crucial Pinal County transportation bills. This achievement came during a session on March 4, 2025, where legislators voted on nearly three dozen bills.

Among the most significant was House Bill 2557, which aims to secure an additional $16.2 million to widen State Route 347, a critical thoroughfare in the area. Representatives Chris Lopez and Teresa Martinez, both Republicans from Casa Grande, expressed their satisfaction over the unanimous support for the bill, a stark contrast to its recent handling by the House Committee on Appropriations.

Lopez shared his enthusiasm, stating, “It’s very fulfilling that we are making these decisions for our constituents.” Martinez highlighted the bipartisanship that framed the passage, commenting, “There are some bills that [Democrats] can say, ‘This is a good bill,’ and then we work together.”

Martinez attributed much of the success to the persistent communication from Maricopa residents. She noted that a surge of emails urging lawmakers to act was instrumental. “Everybody gets the 347 emails. Once this road is widened, those emails go away. I promise,” she remarked.

The bill’s passage was rooted in alarming statistics regarding traffic conditions on SR 347, noted Lopez during the vote. He underscored the highway’s troubling rates of accidents and fatalities, emphasizing, “When we have statistics like that alone, it should be well enough to get this bill passed.” Support also came from Rep. Quantá Crews (D-Phoenix), who shared her personal experiences driving the highway, highlighting the urgent need for enhancements. “I have dodged several accidents, and that’s why I’m supporting this. I’ve seen the need, and I know that it’s necessary,” she affirmed.

In contrast, the second bill, HB 2234, faced a more nuanced fate, narrowly passing with a 31-27 vote. This bill was designed to fund environmental and engineering studies for Interstate 11, an initiative complicated by legal challenges. The revised legislation now allocates $500,000 for researchers at Arizona State University’s Decision Theater to investigate transportation issues in Pinal County and propose innovative solutions starting next fiscal year. Despite initial opposition, Martinez remained confident in the bill’s trajectory. “Plan B is that [Arizona State University President] Michael Crow was going to pick up the tab because they want to do [the study],” she explained.