Residents urge council to accelerate safety work on State Route 347 after repeated crashes

Residents addressed the council July 14 with urgent safety concerns about State Route 347 and nearby intersections, urging the city to begin planning now to prevent further crashes.

Ron Anjorami told the council he calls the issue "the cost of waiting," presenting Arizona Department of Public Safety figures showing 44 accidents on Casablanca/State Route 347 in the past 27 months. "That means 1.63 accidents every month," Anjorami said, and he argued that delaying planning for grade separation at Casa Blanca risks future crashes involving children.

Another resident, Dana Williams, described repeated near misses at the Honeycutt/347 intersection and urged a review of whether an arrow, yield sign or other change could reduce collisions. The city manager noted staff had taken the concern and indicated follow-up.

Why it matters: Council members and staff have previously discussed 347 improvements and the city manager referenced ongoing state-led projects. Residents urged the council to budget and plan locally so that safety measures are not delayed while larger corridor projects proceed.

What council members said: Councilmembers acknowledged the public concerns and the importance of coordination with ADOT, and the city manager pointed to recent enforcement and traffic projects that aim to extend roadway life and safety.

Next steps: Residents asked the council to begin budgeting and planning for grade separation and other safety engineering at Casa Blanca; council and staff indicated they will continue coordination with ADOT and bring updates as planning progresses.