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Supervisors note mayor’s D.C. advocacy and press for real funding for Douglas port connector road
Summary
Board members said the Douglas mayor and city council met with federal officials in Washington to press for funding for a connector road to the port of entry; Supervisor Gomez urged securing an actual allocation rather than a long-standing ‘‘illusionary’’ project designation so work will move forward.
Supervisors discussed recent federal advocacy by Douglas leaders and renewed calls to secure dedicated funding for the connector road that would link the planned port of entry to regional roads.
Supervisor Gomez said the Douglas mayor and city council recently traveled to Washington, D.C., and that board members and local officials have advocated for money for the connector road. ‘‘I think it was maybe almost two weeks ago in Benson and saw that the Maricopa Mayor was down there. … I’d like to make sure that we actually have real money in this budget that says it’s not no longer illusionary,’’ Gomez said, using the meeting to press for a concrete federal commitment.
Gomez described ‘‘illusionary’’ projects as those listed for potential funding but repeatedly deferred. She said making a funding allocation ‘‘real’’ would hasten progress on the road and on Douglas’s port-of-entry project. Board members noted coordination is also needed with Mexican authorities; Gomez said the Douglas mayor has been cultivating sister-city relationships in Sonora to encourage reciprocal progress.
No formal action was taken during this agenda-review session; staff said the matter is covered under state and federal legislation items on upcoming meeting agendas and that local officials will continue advocacy efforts.
