---

brought to you by the ASU WebDevil and the State Press

MAG set to vote on proposed US 60 expansion in Tempe

By Adam Kress

State Press

The debate over US 60 expansion in Tempe is expected to reach its pinnacle today when the Maricopa Association of Governments will vote on the issue.

MAG, composed of Maricopa County mayors, will vote on the 2001-2005 Transportation Improvement Plan. The plan, if approved, will create a carpool lane along the stretch of highway in Tempe.

Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano said he is in favor of adding a carpool lane, but his bigger concern is the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) desire to expand the freeway's retaining walls farther into Tempe's neighborhoods.

For a carpool lane only, the retaining walls need to be moved back 12 feet, but ADOT wants to move the walls back 24 feet, creating room for future expansion as needed.

"We need to get MAG to direct ADOT that only a 12-foot move of the walls is needed," Giuliano said. "This is a capacity issue, not a design issue."

ADOT's stance, on the other hand, is exactly the opposite.

Doug Nintzel, an ADOT spokesman, said the decision of where the walls should ultimately lie is ADOT's and MAG's decision likely will not change the department's stance.

Nintzel said ADOT has conducted studies over the past few years and has determined that the best option is to add a carpool and general purpose lane now and not risk two separate construction periods.

"We believe it's the best decision to move the walls only once," Nintzel said. "So if a decision to make further improvements in the future occurs, we won't have to move the walls again."

Nintzel said ADOT understands the concerns that some Tempe residents have expressed about the proposed expansion, but ADOT believes a full expansion is the best bet in the long run.

"We're certainly aware of residents' concerns, but we're committed to working with those groups to minimize construction impact," he said.

Adam Kress can be reached by e-mail at adam.kress@asu.edu.