Scottsdale Transportation Commission backs FY25‑26 operating and CIP budgets, increases pavement overlay funding

The Scottsdale Transportation Commission voted April 17 to approve and recommend the Transportation Department’s proposed FY2025–26 operating and capital improvement budgets to the City Council.

The commission’s action advances a capital slate that rolls over existing projects, adds new design and construction work on pedestrian and bicycle connections, and increases the city’s pavement overlay budget to accelerate repaving. Commissioners voted to approve the recommended budgets by roll call; the motion passed with six yes votes.

Why it matters: the department’s operating and CIP budgets determine which projects move into design and construction, what maintenance programs are funded, and how the city positions itself for federal and regional grants (for example, ALCP, MAG and SS4A). Several commissioners and staff emphasized that design‑stage projects may require later budget adjustments as utilities, stormwater and right‑of‑way issues become clearer.

Key actions and vote

- Motion to approve the recommended operating and capital budgets (mover not specified in the transcript); seconded by Commissioner Cardella. - Vote record: Chair Miller — yes; Vice Chair Wilcoxon — yes; Commissioner Marmon — yes; Commissioner Penkowitz — yes; Commissioner Cardella — yes; Commissioner Davis — yes. - Outcome: approved (motion passed).

Major projects carried forward and new or changed work

- Ongoing rollovers and federal projects: Goldwater Pedestrian and Bicycle Underpass (federal funding, concept phase), Chaparral‑style grade‑separated projects; Indian Bend Wash path renovation (multi‑segment, $5,000,000 local funding to widen and reconstruct sections to 10–12 ft where needed); Scottsdale Road corridor signal and detection upgrades (federal funding).

- Noted large projects: Pima Road widening (Jomax to Dynamite) listed at $25,000,000 (ALCP funding), and multiple ALCP and federally funded corridor projects continuing through design and construction phases.

- New or adjusted projects: scope change for Alma School/Jomax intersection (additional eastward Jomax widening added to the Alma School scope); Carefree Highway (ALCP) moved toward federalization with a budget update; Double Tree Ranch Road and Mountain View Road bridge deck replacement/repair added after design identified concurrent needs.

- Citywide and programmatic items: a citywide buffer bike‑lane installation program (proposed funding to add buffered bike lanes where repaving allows), Central Arizona Project canal multiuse path design, Old Town Main Street streetscape/pedestrian improvements, and ongoing streetlight and signal equipment replacement programs.

Budgetary details and recurring accounts

- Pavement overlay funding increased to $41,000,000 (up from roughly $18–21 million in prior cycles) to accelerate repaving and improve pavement condition index.

- Yearly replenished accounts: streetlight replacement, asphalt maintenance and overlays, signal construction and minor intersection work, bikeways and neighborhood bikeways, trail improvements (unpaved trails in North Scottsdale). These accounts are reflected as continuing annual budget lines.

- Operating packages: staff presented 12 budget packages for the next fiscal year including new positions (a senior project manager, two partial FTEs for IT/management analyst work, and two ITS signal technician FTEs), vehicle replacements, and a transfer to move multi‑path maintenance into the 0.2% transportation sales tax fund. City staff also proposed rolling Transportation CPM (capital project manager) costs into operating to improve coordination.

Staff cautions and next steps

City staff told commissioners that many projects are at varying design stages; estimates may change as design advances and as stormwater, utilities and right‑of‑way issues are resolved. Staff said they will return to council if additional funding is required once 60–90% design details are known. Commissioners requested more detail on how construction inflation and utility relocations will be checked during design and suggested consolidating or sequencing adjacent projects where appropriate.

Quote from staff

“The step 1 is to re‑budget ongoing projects with no cost or timing changes,” said Transportation Department staff during the presentation, describing the CIP compilation process.

What happens next

The commission’s approval forwards the operating and CIP proposals to City Council for final adoption; staff said public review and council consideration are scheduled through May and June in advance of the July fiscal year start. Several commissioners asked staff to return with a prioritized CIP list in the fall showing contingency needs and updated cost estimates as designs advance.