Bill > HB2601

This bill requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to formally request the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to segment the Interstate 11 (I-11) project, specifically between the Nevada border and Casa Grande. Following federal approval of this segmentation, ADOT must then conduct a Tier 2 environmental and engineering study for the construction of I-11. This action is being taken in response to a lawsuit filed in 2022 that challenged the Tier 1 environmental impact statement for the entire I-11 corridor, alleging insufficient analysis of impacts on sensitive desert lands and wildlife. The legislature finds that this lawsuit has stalled progress statewide, even in areas not directly affected, and that advancing the Tier 2 study for the rest of the corridor is a practical solution that can proceed independently, as these segments are environmentally distinct from the contested portions and can be advanced based on their own merits, consistent with federal precedent. The bill emphasizes that I-11 is crucial for Arizona's economic future, improving freight movement, supporting regional growth, and enhancing safety.