According to a city release, the Maricopa Association of Governments \u201capproved a funding change that secures the full $29.29 million needed\u201d for Scottsdale\u2019s improvement project on Scottsdale Road between Jomax Road and Dixileta Drive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At an April 3 meeting, Scottsdale City Council \u201ccanceled\u201d a planned roundabout at Scottsdale and Dynamite roads by\u00a0 a 4-3 vote (Adam Kwasman, Jan Dubauskas, Barry Graham, Kathy Littlefield for; Solange Whitehead, Maryann McAllen, Mayor Lisa Borowsky opposed).<\/p>\n
Critics of the move complained it threatened a huge chunk of funding for the previously-approved $43 million project.<\/p>\n
A press release from her office credited Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky for \u201csuccessfully advocat(ing) at the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council meeting to secure $29.29 million in funding\u201d for the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was about protecting Scottsdale taxpayers and ensuring that critical infrastructure improvements move forward,\u201d Borowsky said.<\/p>\n
According to an April 8 report to City Council from Alison Tymkiw, a senior city engineer, \u201credesigning from a roundabout to a signalized intersection would be deemed a significant change in scope\u201d and \u201csuch a scope change would result in forfeiture of $31,132,929 in federal funding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though she said she could not make a guarantee, Tymkiw noted, \u201cThe city could potentially exchange federal funding with regional funding \u2026 through the Maricopa Association of Governments.\u201d<\/p>\n
That indeed happened this week \u2013 though about $2 million short of what was forfeited.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Holly Peralta, a city spokeswoman, \u201cThe $43,685,237 budget was approved by city council last year at the Sept. 24, 2024, council meeting, prior to the start of construction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe $1.8 million Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant was forfeited when changing the roundabout to a traffic signal. That funding will be replaced with 0.1% Transportation Sales Tax.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a Dec. 3 press release, Scottsdale spokeswoman Peralta said MAG\u2019s approval \u201cfinalizes a months-long effort by the city of Scottsdale to shift the project from federal funding to regional Proposition 400 sales tax funding.\u201d<\/p>\n
MAG worked with the city to identify eligible projects where the federal funds could be reassigned, the release noted. Regional half-cent sales tax funds simultaneously were moved into Scottsdale\u2019s project to replace them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to MAG, the exchange maintains full funding for Scottsdale while keeping all involved projects compliant with the Arterial Life Cycle Program,\u201d Peralta said.<\/p>\n
Adjustments to accommodate the swap were incorporated into MAG\u2019s FY 2026\u20132030 Transportation Improvement Program before receiving final approval, she added.<\/p>\n
The ongoing project includes updates to intersections, landscaped medians, bike lanes, sidewalks and trails.<\/p>\n
The road project is expected to continue through the summer of 2026.<\/p>\n
City Manager Greg Caton said the MAG decision \u201censures a critical north Scottsdale roadway improvement stays on schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
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