Mayor Smith announced on July 15 that State Route 347 improvements — including widening, a Riggs Road overpass and additional intersection work — have been funded in the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) five-year plan. "For the first time ever in the existence of the City Of Maricopa, 347 widening Riggs Road overpass intersections, the repavement for the 2 existing lanes on each side is all funded in the 5 year plan," Mayor Smith said at the council meeting.

Why it matters: The project affects a major arterial that residents and council members said is critical to local mobility and safety. Council and staff said inclusion in the five-year plan moves the work beyond advocacy and into the planning and delivery phase for the first time for this corridor.

Key facts and next steps: Mayor Smith credited a multi‑year, multi‑partner effort that included citizen advocacy, the city’s additional half‑cent sales tax, and state and regional funding partners. At the meeting she listed partners she said contributed to securing the funds, including Pinal County ($20,000,000), the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) ($90,000,000 for the northern portion), state legislators who supported the appropriation and ADOT for developing options.

"Our staff, specifically Katie Proctor, our intergov, was at the capitol," Mayor Smith said, describing staff work to secure the appropriation. Council members and staff said the city will continue advocacy to keep the funding in place and will work with ADOT on schedule and project delivery. Mayor Smith said the city will share schedule details as they become available and that city staff will seek to participate in the project team.

Public engagement and celebration: The mayor described wide public involvement, including at least 25–30 people speaking at a state transportation board hearing and a grassroots letter campaign the city organized. The council announced public appreciation events — a free pool party on Aug. 9 and senior festivities on Aug. 12 — to mark the milestone while cautioning that project delivery requires continued follow‑through.

What the council did: This item was reported as part of the mayor’s verbal report; there was no formal council vote on the announcement itself. Council members repeatedly emphasized that advocacy must continue to preserve the appropriations and move design and construction forward.

Context and constraints: Council members cautioned that placement in the state five‑year plan does not immediately start construction; it identifies the project for funding and scheduling by ADOT and partners. Mayor Smith said the city will coordinate with ADOT to understand timeline and participate in the implementation process.

A closing note: Council members and staff framed the announcement as the result of an extended campaign of public testimony, coordination with regional partners and state legislators, and local funding commitments, but said the next steps will require continued oversight to keep the projects on track.