Lisa Everett
Submitted photo/Lisa Everett
By Lisa Everett | Surprise
OPINION — In the past three months, I’ve been involved in two accidents in the area of 163rd Avenue, U.S. 60 (Grand Avenue) and Loop 303 — neither of which I caused. My experience is no longer unusual: there are daily accidents in this corridor.
On social media, some blame inattentive driving or speeding. Others point to a lack of police presence. I believe the real issue is too many cars forced into a space with inadequate infrastructure.
The city of Surprise has done what it can. Its responsibility extends primarily to 163rd Avenue, and city leaders take that responsibility seriously.
This location is uniquely complicated because multiple jurisdictions converge within a small geographic area. Responsibility is shared among city, state and federal governments, and there’s another critical stakeholder: BNSF Railway.
When Loop 303 was constructed, BNSF did not cooperate with the state, forcing the state to alter its plans. Planning and coordinating a major transportation project with this many stakeholders is understandably complex and time-consuming. But time is up.
Residents have been sounding the alarm for years about rapid growth without corresponding infrastructure improvements. One person who has consistently acted is Surprise City Councilman Nick Haney. He has been responsive, transparent and diligent about keeping the public informed while pushing other entities to understand just how serious the needs are in this corridor.
This area is among the fastest-growing in Maricopa County. The danger here affects nearly everyone in Surprise, even those who don’t drive through this intersection daily. Insurance rates are based on risk; simply living here can mean higher car insurance premiums.
What’s most alarming is the timeline. Major improvements are scheduled for 2028. By then, thousands of new homes will be completed, adding thousands more vehicles to already overburdened roads.
We need action now. State and federal legislators must hear clearly that the current timetable is unacceptable. Lives are at stake.
I encourage every resident to call, write and make your voice heard.
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Keywords
Surprise,
163rd Avenue,
U.S. 60,
Grand Avenue,
Loop 303,
infrastructure,
Nick Haney