Bill > HB2601

This bill mandates that the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) formally request the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to segment the Interstate 11 (I-11) project, specifically dividing it into a portion 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 I-11 construction, which refers to a more detailed analysis of environmental impacts and engineering requirements for specific sections of the highway. The bill's context highlights that a pending lawsuit challenging the initial "tier 1 environmental impact statement" for I-11 has stalled progress statewide, and the legislature believes that segmenting the project and advancing the tier 2 study for unaffected areas is a lawful and practical solution to avoid further delays in congestion relief, safety improvements, and economic development, asserting that these other sections are environmentally distinct from the contested areas and can advance independently.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84409