"This guidelines and procedures manual is intended to be used by the staff of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and Arizona's regional transportation planning agencies, which include Councils of Governments (COGs), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and Transportation Management Areas (TMAs). In addition to outlining the guidelines and procedures for regional transportation planning functions, this manual provides an overview of the programs administered by the ADOT Multimodal Planning Division (MPD)."--Introduction, Page 1-1

The Multimodal Planning Division (MPD) of the Arizona Department of Transportation has been tasked with identifying corridors throughout the state where improvements to the transportation infrastructure supports the greatest potential commercial and economic benefits. These "Key Commerce Corridors" represent a strategic statewide approach to leverage infrastructure improvements to enhance Arizona's competitive economic position. This document presents the basis for the identification and evaluation of the Key Commerce Corridors.

The proposed action is the construction and operation of a new multilane freeway in the metropolitan Phoenix area extending approximately 22 to 24 miles from Interstate 10 west of Phoenix to Interstate 10 southeast of Phoenix. The facility would be the final extension of State Route 202L, an element of the Maricopa Association of Governments' adopted Regional Freeway and Highway System.