Hey, Foothills! Freeway siting not just about you

The Arizona Republic
Jan. 26, 2006 12:00 AM  

Here's a shocker for some Ahwatukee Foothills residents: The planned South Mountain Freeway isn't just about their community.

Despite the past few months of heavy media coverage focusing on the plight of Ahwatukee Foothills homeowners and those who've bought land along the proposed route, the last leg of Loop 202 is a topic of broader regional importance. And the whirlwind of controversy over the possible Pecos Road alignment has gummed up the decision process so much that the South Mountain Citizens Advisory Team agreed last week to temporarily table any Ahwatukee discussions. The group faces a Feb. 2 vote on a west-side alignment recommendation, with reams of paperwork to read through before then.

The advisory team also decided to muzzle the public, which had been submitting so many written comments - largely concerning the Ahwatukee section - that the meetings were running late.  

Keep in mind, the team is a group of volunteers from different areas along the route. Volunteers who have been meeting for four years to help guide the Arizona Department of Transportation in its final decision. The volunteers don't need to be harangued by people who have made their dislike of a freeway fully known. Rather, they need some time to work on the task at hand, which is recommending a western alignment for the South Mountain Freeway.

The three proposed routes, connecting to Interstate 10 in the West Valley at 55th Avenue, 71st Avenue or Loop 101, have the potential to affect several communities with concerns of their own.

While Ahwatukee's concerns are the most near and dear to our hearts, we empathize with communities such as Tolleson and Avondale that have also been living with the uncertainty surrounding a possible freeway. Their concerns deserve the same careful consideration that Ahwatukee residents expect.

In the Southeast Valley, the regional importance of finishing Loop 202 cannot be overstated. The freeway will offer a necessary alternative to residents as they travel to the West Valley for sports venues, jobs or on their way to California. Projections done by the Maricopa Association of Governments predict that, if the South Mountain Freeway is not built, the Broadway Curve of Interstate 10 will be overwhelmed within 15 years. It will not be able to carry the more than 400,000 cars daily that MAG expects.

It seems clear that the South Mountain Citizens Advisory Team is conscientious about its task and intent on offering a well-reasoned recommendation to ADOT. To achieve that, the team is wise to buckle down to meet deadlines.

Ahwatukee Foothills residents should respect that and give them the breathing room they need.