The proposed bill SB1012 amends existing Arizona transportation planning laws by introducing specific requirements and restrictions for the Transportation Planning Division's performance factors. Key changes include the requirement for the Division to use prescribed weights for transportation and highway projects instead of developing them independently. For transit projects, the bill mandates that ridership must meet a minimum of 70% of the system average, or 50% if contracted to a private operator. Additionally, it establishes specific weight allocations for highway projects, emphasizing congestion reduction, mobility, and safety improvements.

The bill also modifies existing performance factor variables, adding "mobility" as a required factor and redefining others, such as changing "congestion relief" to "congestion reduction." It bifurcates the variable "integration and connectivity with other modes" into two separate factors: "connectivity" and "integration." Furthermore, the bill prohibits the Division from adopting any motor vehicle travel mile reduction targets or demand management policies and ensures that performance factors do not promote differential treatment based on race, color, or ethnicity. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the effectiveness and equity of Arizona's transportation planning processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 28-501, 28-505, 28-332
Senate Engrossed Version: 28-501, 28-505, 28-332