Bill > SB1086

This bill amends Arizona transportation planning laws by introducing comprehensive definitions and performance evaluation criteria for transportation system projects. The bill establishes 14 new defined terms for transportation planning, including concepts like "accessibility", "congestion reduction", "connectivity", and "mobility", which provide clear and specific meanings for key transportation planning concepts. It also modifies how the transportation planning division evaluates and weights transportation projects, establishing specific percentage-based weights for highway and transit projects. For highway projects, the weights are 40% for congestion reduction, 40% for mobility increase, and 20% for safety improvements. For transit projects, the bill sets ridership requirements, with routes needing to maintain at least 70% of system average ridership (or 50% if privately operated). The bill includes important provisions that prohibit the division from adopting motor vehicle travel mile reduction targets and mandates that performance factors cannot be applied in a way that discriminates based on race, color, or ethnicity. Additionally, the bill requires the division to develop quantitative measurement methods for performance factors and consider new technologies and innovations in transportation planning. These changes aim to create a more structured, data-driven approach to transportation system planning and project selection in Arizona.

Military Affairs and Security, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/81916