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Committee backs bill asking ADOT to request FHWA segmentation for I‑11 to allow northern work to proceed
Summary
House Bill 2601 instructs ADOT to request FHWA segmentation of the Interstate 11 corridor so federally approved segments can move forward while litigation affecting southern sections is resolved; committee returned the bill with a due‑pass recommendation.
The committee gave a due‑pass recommendation to House Bill 2601, which directs ADOT to ask the Federal Highway Administration to segment the Interstate 11 project between the Nevada state line and Casa Grande and — should FHWA approve segmentation — proceed with any required Tier‑2 environmental and engineering studies for construction in approved segments.
The bill grew from concerns raised during ADOT’s I‑11 presentation: members asked whether litigation that plaintiffs described as focused on southern segments should prevent northern segments with environmental clearances from moving forward. Sponsors argued segmentation would let ADOT and local partners continue projects with prior environmental clearances, while opponents warned that segmentation could complicate NEPA consistency and litigation posture. ADOT’s director had earlier said FHWA and ADOT believe reevaluation of the Tier‑1 EIS and targeted Tier‑2 work is the most cost‑effective and least legally risky path, but the bill authorizes ADOT to request segmentation from FHWA.
The committee returned HB 2601 with a due‑pass recommendation on a roll call; staff noted any Tier‑2 work would remain subject to environmental review and potential litigation outcomes.
What happens next: If the bill passes the Legislature and ADOT requests segmentation, FHWA must decide whether to allow segmentation. Any approved segmentation would trigger project‑level Tier‑2 studies and associated public involvement for the individual segments authorized by FHWA.
