Sen. Kelly Raises Arizona’s Overdue I-10 Expansion, Building I-11 in Hearing with Buttigieg

Major priorities Kelly specifically advocated for, like dedicated funding to repair Arizona’s bridges, investment in transportation infrastructure resiliency, and a study on the use of locally-sourced aggregates, as well as specific funding for tribal infrastructure, were all included in the Kelly-shaped Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

Read a transcript of Senator Kelly’s remarks below, and watch his full remarks HERE.

Kelly: Mr. Secretary, good to see you again, twice in two days, and thank you for being here today.  

I was really proud to have had the opportunity to work to craft the bipartisan infrastructure law, both as a member of this committee, but also in the group of members that negotiated the final deal. 

One of the aspects I’m most proud of is how this law was crafted to meet the needs of different states. Different states having different needs.

And in Arizona, one top priority is funding to strengthen our state’s interstate highways. 

Arizona is different from many other states. When the interstate highway system was designed in the 1950s and 60s, Arizona was a, you know, small population state and our infrastructure needs looked a lot different. 

Compared to other regions, our interstate highways are not designed to meet the needs of our growing state and the growing southwest.   

Right now, Interstate 10 which connects Phoenix and Tucson – the two largest metropolitan areas in the state — still to this day, just has two lanes in sections, long sections. And a single accident can cause traffic jams for hours. I’ve spent 6.5 hours on that highway stuck in a traffic jam when the normal drive is about 90 minutes. And these traffic jams happen every single day on average.

And despite being two of the fastest growing cities in the country – another issue we have is Phoenix and Las Vegas.  Phoenix and Las Vegas still are not connected via an interstate highway. 

And that’s why I worked, in this committee and on the floor, to support the creation of the new National Infrastructure Project Assistance program – which we’re calling the “mega projects” program – to fund major transportation projects with national or regional economic, mobility, and safety benefits.  

Or in other words, projects like the I-10 expansion between Phoenix and Tucson or the construction of I-11 between Phoenix and Las Vegas would be these mega projects. 

So Mr. Secretary, would you agree that Arizona and other fast-growing states have different roadway infrastructure needs than other states? And how do you believe the infrastructure law can help states like Arizona fund long-overdue interstate expansion projects?  

Sec. Buttigieg: Thank you for the question and the example you raised is a great one of how the infrastructure needs of our states differ. I come from a community that lost about 30% of its population in the 60s, 70s, 80s up to the time that I was Mayor. And so we had built more roads than we had taxpayers or drivers to support them, and found that in some contexts, some of our roads needed to go on a diet, although I’m pleased to say my hometown is growing again. But some of the fastest growing communities are in places like Arizona, and the needs are an example of why, for example, in federal highways’ internal guidance there was an effort to point out that none of that would stand in the way of a capacity expansion where it’s appropriate. And you’ve raised both the need for, the vision for an entirely new stretch of highway with  I-11 or capacity extension on I-10. There are many sources of funding. In the formula funds, potentially, mega projects and others, that could go towards this use in the infrastructure law. I would also add one thing I’ve admired in Arizona is the funding and support that’s gone into transit including across community lines, party lines, county lines, and that can serve to take pressure off of congestion even while capacity expansion is being considered at the same time.

Kelly: And, is there anything you can share about the timing for the “Mega Projects” program? 

Sec. Buttigieg: I can tell you that we’re working right now on getting the guidance ready, and part of what we’re working on there is to make sure that it’s a flagship example of a notice of funding opportunity that is user friendly for applicants so we want to get it right, but we also want to get it out the door quickly.

Kelly: What do you think applicants might need to do to be successful in applying for these funds? 

Sec. Buttigieg: Well of course, first, the guidance will lay out the basic expectations for the use of federal taxpayer dollars. Next, will be the aspirations for these funds that are going to projects – as you know having helped to craft them – that can’t necessarily be met by any other source. Too big, too complex, too multi-jurisdictional or, for some other reason, might not happen but for a grant out of the mega program. So the ability to demonstrate that, and to speak to the other policy priorities that are encoded in the law, I think will make the strongest applications. 

Kelly:  Well, thank you and we look forward – in Arizona – to see the rolling out of this mega projects program, and the details for how to apply and be successful. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.