Item Text

1. MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN: LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT EXTENSION Approve the proposed Major Amendment to the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) which will add to the 2035 MAG RTP the Light Rail Extension on Central Avenue from Washington Street/Jefferson Street to Baseline Road. METRO Light Rail and the City of Phoenix are requesting approval of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for South Central Avenue and to add the five-mile light rail transit (LRT) extension on Central Avenue from Washington Street/Jefferson Street to Baseline Road to the 2035 MAG RTP. The preliminary estimated capital cost for the project is approximately $680 million and will be funded through City of Phoenix sales tax funds and possibly federal funds. No regional public transportation funds/Proposition 400 funds are planned to be used for this project. The proposed request is a major amendment to the RTP because there is more than one-mile of fixed transit being added. Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-6353, the amendment requires that consultation by MAG be made with the BOS, the State Transportation Board, the Regional Public Transportation Authority, the Indian Communities, the cities and towns in Maricopa County, and the Citizens Transportation Oversight Committee (CTOC). Each entity shall submit a written recommendation to the MAG Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) within thirty (30) days after approval by the MAG Regional Council. (C-64-15-030-M-00)