The $14.9 billion you paid for road projects could end up outside Arizona
As working Arizonans who care deeply about our communities, we watched with pride as voters approved Proposition 479 last November, extending Maricopa County's transportation funding for another 20 years.
This landmark investment will generate $14.9 billion for critical transportation infrastructure, creating more than 31,000 jobs annually and saving businesses $1.6 billion each year through improved efficiency.
But securing funding is just the first step.
How we spend these taxpayer dollars matters just as much as the projects themselves.
For critical public investments like roads to truly benefit Arizona, a few key principles must guide spending.
First, we must build projects once and do them right. When properly skilled construction workers earn fair wages for their challenging jobs, the result is quality work that lasts.
Second, Arizona must prioritize heat safety. With weeks of 110-degree temperatures becoming commonplace, our workers need proper hydration, shade access and rest breaks.
While Phoenix and Tucson recently passed heat safety ordinances for city contractors, we need comprehensive statewide protections.
Yet multiple bills addressing heat safety have failed in our Legislature, even as heat-related deaths continue to increase.
Arizona has no heat standard requirement, so the Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health uses the federal 'general duty' clause and an 'emphasis program' to encourage worker safety compliance.
It isn't enough.
Third, we need meaningful oversight for government-funded projects. Unlike neighboring states, Arizona's minimal public works standards create a troubling accountability gap for taxpayer dollars.
Without requirements for in-state hiring on taxpayer-funded projects, Arizona dollars frequently flow out of state instead of strengthening our local economy.
The absence of comprehensive verification systems also allows contractors to operate without proper training documentation, skip essential safety protocols like regular drug testing and pay wages that drive skilled workers away from these critical professions.
These oversight failures not only shortchange workers but ultimately cost taxpayers more through compromised quality and premature infrastructure failures.
Fourth, we must respect skilled trades.
With nearly 200,000 jobs available and 41% of Arizona construction workers expected to retire by 2031, our state faces a workforce crisis that's delaying projects and driving up costs.
Gov. Katie Hobbs recently announced additional investment in apprenticeships, which is a step in the right direction to address Arizona's critical construction labor shortage.
While these apprenticeship investments help build our talent pipeline, they must be paired with safer working conditions and competitive wages to be truly effective.
Opinion: Proposition 479 is how we fight annoying traffic and potholes
Without addressing dangerous heat conditions and ensuring fair compensation, we'll continue to train workers who leave for better opportunities in neighboring states.
Even worse, without proper standards, out-of-state contractors routinely bring less-qualified workers from elsewhere, taking Arizona taxpayer money back to California or New Mexico or elsewhere when projects finish.
The passage of Proposition 479 demonstrated Arizonans' commitment to building a better future. Now, it's time to ensure these dollars create not just roads and bridges, but good jobs, strong families and thriving communities.
We call upon local, regional and state policymakers to enact changes ensuring that our infrastructure funding adheres to these principles.
Together, let's strengthen oversight, improve safety standards, and put Arizona workers and businesses first.
Building Arizona's tomorrow starts with the right foundations today. Build it once, and do it right.
Herb Tiffany IV is a fourth-generation leader and project manager at Tiffany Construction. Jacob Irizarry is a heavy machine operator and a member of the Operating Engineers Local 12 in Phoenix. They are members of Rise Arizona, a coalition of construction companies and skilled trades professionals. Reach them at info@rise-az.org.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Heat, lax oversight puts Phoenix area road projects at risk | Opinion
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