The Arizona Department of Transportation is facing a $100 million budget shortfall this year, so it is cutting its spending, the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff reported.
ADOT cutbacks include closing 13 of the state’s 18 rest stops, so effective Oct. 19, motorists will no longer be allowed to pull off the highway, stretch their legs and visit the restroom. The state is working with businesses located near rest areas to provide a place for travelers to stop and use restroom facilities at no charge.
The state also is closing 12 Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) field offices. On top of previous cuts, ADOT also is deferring $370 million in highway construction projects, deferring maintenance activities, consolidating customer services and cutting 10% of its staff.
“More than $500 million in transportation funding has been diverted in the past year to address the state’s budget challenges,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski in an ADOT statement. “ADOT’s customers pay their own way by using transportation services, but because the state is using transportation funds to pay for other needs and people are buying less fuel and fewer vehicles, we are simply running out of money.”
ADOT derives its revenue from vehicle licensing fees and gas taxes. On top of diverted transportation funds, Arizona residents have been buying fewer vehicles and more fuel-efficient vehicles, which reduces licensing-fee revenue. They also have been driving less in their fuel-efficient vehicles, which means less gas-tax revenue.
Since MVD offices provide voter registration services, ADOT has to get approval from federal officials to close those offices. If approval is forthcoming, ADOT plans to close 12 MVD offices around the state. ADOT also is eliminating Saturday office hours effective Nov. 1 and focusing service on weekdays. Last year, ADOT cut costs by $60 million.
ADOT received $350 million in federal funding for “shovel ready” projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but state funding for other projects will be cut by $370 million over the next four years.
The state will cut back on highway landscaping and graffiti removal and focus maintenance activities on safety, such as emergency response, snow and ice removal and emergency repairs.
“Drivers will continue to see projects being built across the state because the federal government sends money to Arizona for highway construction,” Halikowski said. “That money is restricted by federal and state laws to pay for construction activities and cannot be used for general operations, such as MVD services.”
