06/24/2025
It has been my honor to serve as Chair over the past year for two critically important committees: Mesa Gateway Airport Board of Directors and Maricopa Association of Governments Transportation Policy Committee. Both organizations do outstanding work that strengthens our region and helps shape a more connected, prosperous future for all who live and work here.
I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on all the incredible successes we’ve seen over the past year.
Together, we marked major milestones at Mesa Gateway Airport—from the opening of the Gulfstream West Coast Service Center, which brought hundreds of new jobs and opportunities for our veterans, to the completion of Virgin Galactic’s spaceship manufacturing facility, where initial production is set to begin.
XNRGY successfully launched its first production and is actively hiring hundreds of employees. We also saw the approval of Gateway East Phase I, which includes hotel, restaurant, and retail components, with construction starting soon.
From a financial perspective, this past year was the Airport’s best yet. We completed our fuel farm, experienced record-breaking fuel sales, and welcomed an all-time high in passenger traffic.
As I reflect on this past year with the MAG Transportation Policy Committee, I’m incredibly proud of what the committee has accomplished together. We’ve addressed some of our region’s most pressing transportation challenges—delivering safer roads, smarter infrastructure, and laying the foundation for long-term regional mobility and growth.
One of our most significant achievements was the successful passage of Proposition 479, which we worked diligently to see cross the finish line and secure vital investment in the region’s transportation future. With its passage, we are able to expand and enhance multimodal transportation infrastructure and connectivity throughout the region.
As a result, we recommended the draft Proposition 479 Freeway Life Cycle Program, which funds critical freeway improvement projects through 2045—including State Route 30 in the Southwest Valley, the reconstruction of I-17, and the permanent extension of SR-24 in the Southeast Valley.
We also prioritized the modernization of our arterial network by establishing two competitive programs under the Regional Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Investment Plan: the $300 million Arterial Widening Program and the $500 million Arterial Rehabilitation Program. Just this week, we recommended approximately $94 million in first-round funding for 10 projects that will improve mobility and safety, and $56 million for 7 projects that will expand roadway capacity across the region.
In addition, we continued developing the Transit Life Cycle Program and administered grants that provide options for the elderly and people with disabilities. Our planning work also advanced this year with major efforts related to I-10 east of downtown, safety improvements to State Route 85, and the incorporation of new transportation technologies.
It’s been an honor to help guide these generational investments—initiatives that will shape and strengthen our region for decades to come.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and while my time as Chair comes to an end, I’ll remain a strong supporter and continue cheering on the exciting progress and future success of Mesa Gateway Airport and the Maricopa Association of Governments.
The honor has been mine. Thank you!
