SAFFORD — On Monday, the Safford City Council received an update from the newest member of the state Transportation Board member, Thatcher Vice Mayor Jenny Howard.
Howard represents Graham, Gila and Pinal counties on the board, which meets the third Thursday of each month.
She told the council she’s noticed a downward trend on the condition of state highways and routes.
“They expand to commit to the upgrade of population of our people — the more people the more vehicles — so they’re always fore-thinking ahead for that. But I really feel like the maintenance of our U.S. highways and routes is declining,” Howard said.
She also said most of the smaller communities throughout the state share the same issues as Graham County, including needed road repairs and widening of state highways.
Road work currently in the planning stages includes pavement preservation on U.S. Highway 191 from Fort Grant Road to Swift Trail in Graham County, and a roundabout for the Three-Way intersection in Greenlee County.
And she talked about the lack of funding for roads that comes from electric vehicles, since those vehicle owners currently do not pay any taxes when refueling.
Howard also updated the Thatcher Town Council on the tax issue surrounding electric vehicles on Monday.
Howard will serve until 2028 and then Graham County will not have another representative on the board until 2054.
