The Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT’s) process for working with Local Public Agencies (LPAs) in the development and delivery of their transportation projects has evolved over the years. Recent changes in Arizona’s economy have reduced the distribution of state funds for local transportation projects, which has increased the demand for federal funding sources. In response to the anticipated increase in LPA projects desiring the use of federal funds and the continuing need to meet state and local transportation requirements, this updated manual highlights the steps necessary to capably deliver LPA projects in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.

The ADOT Local Public Agency Projects Manual has been a collaborative effort among the various Divisions, Groups, and Sections within ADOT, as well as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Arizona Division, with input from LPAs. ADOT would like to express sincere gratitude to Logan Simpson Design Inc. for successfully facilitating that effort and for their contribution to the production of this manual. Their hard work and in-depth coordination with ADOT and FHWA staff has been invaluable to the preparation of this manual.

The Department was established by the state legislature in July 1974 by combining the former Arizona Highway Department (originally established in 1927) and the Department of Aeronautics (originally established in 1962). The Department is not legally separate from the State of Arizona's primary government. The Department's mission is to provide a safe, efficient, cost-effective transportation system. The vision is the standard of excellence for transportation systems and services. This report includes all funds used to record the financial activity of the Department.

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.

The objective of the Verde Valley Master Transportation Study (VVMTS) is to provide the participating members of the Verde Valley Transportation Planning Organization (VVTPO) an update on the performance of the major roads in their respective jurisdictions and provide an implementation planning tool for programming of funds for improvement of their transportation system. This regional collaboration will also provide a performance measure of how the transportation system as a whole is operating in the Verde Valley.

The purpose of the Program is to set forth the plan for developing projects and account for the spending funds for the next five years. All projects in the first two years of the program will be fully funded and ready to advertise within the year programmed or sooner as determined by the State Transportation Board. The last three years of the program will be illustrative in nature and be used to establish an implementation plan for projects moving through the various preparation phases needed prior to the construction of the project.