11/19/07-House Transportation Chairman Andy Biggs says tapping into privatization to build toll roads appears to be the best option to come up with money for new highways.
While the thought of tolling highways is unpopular among many in Arizona, Biggs, R-Gilbert, says it is more palatable to lawmakers than increasing fuel or sales taxes.
Biggs is co-chairman of a special legislative panel reviewing transportation funding options. The option of tolling is drawing consideration because it no longer is regarded as the topic no one wants to discuss, Biggs told The Associated Press.
He only wants to have toll roads on new, privately-financed roads. He is opposed to tolling existing roads.
Any pay-as-you-go road should have free alternate routes, Biggs said.
While Biggs is willing to explore all options except tax increases, Gov. Janet Napolitano is taking into consideration putting before voters a question about whether to impose new taxes to pay for roads.
The governor plans to have a package ready to offer to lawmakers during the regular session that begins in January. That would give state officials time to decide whether to put a tax proposal on the ballot as early as next fall.
Victor Mendez, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, said coming up with solutions to the state’s funding woes is a complex problem. He said there is no “silver bullet” to solve all future transportation needs, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

10/05/07-Gov. Janet Napolitano is considering putting before voters a question about whether to impose new taxes to pay for roads.
The governor is asking for insight on how best to close a gap in funding for transportation needs.
One particular option she is interested in pursuing is the possibility of building a rail line to link Tucson and Phoenix. Tolling existing roads also will be explored.
Napolitano said she also wonders whether private groups would foot the bill for some of these needs. She also wants to find out whether it would be appropriate to increase the state’s fuel tax rates or the state sales tax, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
The governor plans to have a package ready to offer to lawmakers during the next regular session. That would give state officials time to decide whether to put a tax proposal on the ballot as early as next fall.
She wants any proposal for tax increases for transportation to be decided by voters.
The leading state transportation official says coming up with solutions to the state’s funding woes is a complex problem.
Victor Mendez, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, said there is no “silver bullet” to solve all future transportation needs, the Daily Star reported.
The Legislature returns to the capitol to discuss transportation and other issues in January 2008.

10/4/07-State lawmakers in Arizona are working to come up with more revenues to pay for transportation projects.
It is estimated the state needs anywhere from $20 billion to $40 billion to pay for road and bridge work during the next 20 years.
The Legislature’s Blue Ribbon Transportation Committee is tossing around options to help alleviate congestion on the state’s roadways. One option expected to get further consideration is the possibility of building new toll roads. Private groups also could be tapped to cover the expense of construction.
The 10-member panel was created by lawmakers this past spring. They are responsible for reviewing transportation studies and making recommendations to the House and Senate during the 2008 session on what needs to be done to meet transportation needs.
Although he is opposed to turning existing roads in toll routes, Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said using tolls to help finance new roads is a better option than increasing fuel taxes. Gould is the chairman of the House Transportation Committee and the blue-ribbon panel.
Critics say toll programs in other states have not been the solution they were touted to be by advocates. Others say toll routes can make traffic worse in some cases.
Gould said he understands that toll roads are not popular among residents in the state but the condition of the state’s roadways may make people rethink their views, The Associated Press reported.
Other options to boost revenues include increasing the state’s fuel tax rates and 5.6 percent sales tax. A penny increase to the sales tax could bring in $1 billion annually.

1/4/07-As Gov. Janet Napolitano begins her second term in office she has her eyes on allowing the state to refinance transportation bonds to help pay for road and bridge work.
Napolitano is considering a change to state law that limits highway bonds to 20 years, the Arizona Daily Star reported. Repealing the limit would allow the Arizona Department of Transportation to float 30-year bonds, which would allow the state to borrow more money.
The governor is expected to reveal details of her goals for her new term Monday, Jan. 8, when she delivers the annual State of the State Address. The speech comes on the eve of the start of the 2007 legislative session, which begins Tuesday.
The crunch on dollars for transportation has led one lawmaker who took a pledge of no new taxes to consider such an option.
House Transportation Committee Chairman Rep. Andy Biggs is looking into whether the state should eliminate its per-gallon fuel tax and replace it with a state sales tax, the Daily Star reported.
Biggs, R-Gilbert, said such a change would provide more money for roads in the long run.
The head of the Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, is opposed to Biggs' plan. Gould has his own idea.
He would rather allow private groups to build and expand existing roads in return for charging tolls, the Daily Star reported. Gould said he doesn't want to privatize roads that were built with tax dollars.