The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) have been leading the citizens of the Valley of the Sun to believe that the proposed route for the South Mountain Freeway is the “only alternative” that will contribute to better transportation within the Valley of the Sun. In fact, the proposed route along Pecos Road and through South Mountain is one of many alternatives that have been suggested for the proposed South Mountain Freeway, NONE of which would be acceptable. The real alternatives lie elsewhere! ADOT and MAG need to rethink their Valley Transportation Plan and find a different approach!

See some of the alternatives to the South Mountain Freeway.

PARC has 3 major issues with the proposed South Mountain Freeway (SMF):

1. Destruction of a Significant Portion of South Mountain

Blasting through 3 ridges of South Mountain is an outrageous, irresponsible action that would permanently disfigure South Mountain, destroying the integrity of the park, the mountain, and its ecosystem. This destruction must be stopped!

2. CANAMEX Truck ByPass introducing New, Potent Pollution into Valley

This issue must NOT be buried among local highway issues that may be able to benefit citizens of the valley. The CANAMEX truck by-pass will provide virtually NO BENEFITS for residents, but the traffic and the air pollution introduced into the Valley of the Sun will choke us!

3. Waste of Taxpayer Dollars that could be better spent elsewhere

One good idea is to build a new route for I-10 so all but local traffic would bypass the Valley of the Sun!  ADOT has enough money to do this, but the money needs to be used more effectively.