Interstate 11; environmental; engineering; study

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the economic importance or the exact nature of Tier 2 NEPA studies, which were removed from the explanation.

Study and Environmental Review for Interstate 11

This bill requires the Arizona Department of Transportation to request segmentation from the Federal Highway Administration for a part of Interstate 11 between Casa Grande and Wickenburg, conduct environmental reviews, and obtain necessary authorizations.

What This Bill Does

• Requires ADOT to formally ask FHWA within two weeks after the law takes effect to segment Interstate 11 between Interstate 10 at the City of Casa Grande and the Town of Wickenburg as an independent project.
• After getting approval from FHWA, ADOT must complete environmental reviews and get any needed federal or state permissions for this part of Interstate 11.

Who It Names or Affects

• Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT)
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Terms To Know

segmentation

Breaking a large project into smaller, independent parts to be studied and approved separately.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much it will cost or where the funding will come from.
• It is unclear if and when FHWA will approve the segmentation request.

Official Summary Text

HB2601 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
h.b. 2601

Interstate 11; environmental;
engineering; study

Purpose

Requires the
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to formally request from the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for segmentation of the Interstate 11
project, as prescribed.

Background

The Interstate
11 Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement and record of decision from the City
of Nogales to the Town of Wickenburg was completed and published by ADOT in
November 2021. For Interstate 11 to advance, the project would need: 1) National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval; 2) to identify funding sources; and
3) to conduct specific project-level Tier 2 NEPA studies of priority corridor
segments (
ADOT
).

There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

Requires ADOT, within 14 days after the general effective date, to formally
request from the FHWA for segmentation of the Interstate 11 project between
Interstate 10 at the City of Casa Grande and the Town of Wickenburg as a
segment of independent utility.

2.

Requires ADOT, no later than three months after federal approval of
segmentation, to carry out the environmental reviews and obtain any federal or
state authorizations that are required for the segment.

3.

Contains a statement of legislative findings.

4.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

House Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

March 27, 2026

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Current Bill Text

HB2601 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

Interstate 11;
environmental; engineering; study

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2601

AN
ACT

Amending title 28, Chapter 20, Article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding Section 28-6902; relating to state
highways and routes.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 28, chapter 20, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 28-6902, to read:

START_STATUTE
28-6902.

Interstate 11

A. Not later than fourteen days after
the effective date of this section, the department shall formally request from
the federal highway administration for segmentation of the interstate 11
project between
interstate 10 at the city of casa grande
and the town of wickenburg as a segment of INDEPENDENT utility.

B. Not later than three months after
federal approval of segmentation requested pursuant to subsection A of this
section, the department shall
carry out the ENVIRONMENTAL
reviews and OBTAIN any federal or state authorizations that are required for
the segment described in subsection A of this section, consistent with
applicable federal law and the federal highway administration's GUIDANCE.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.
Legislative
findings

The legislature finds that:

1. A 2022 lawsuit stalled
the entire Interstate 11 project statewide, even in areas not directly
implicated by the lawsuit, delaying congestion relief, safety improvements and economic
development.

2. Advancing the tier 2
study for the rest of the corridor is a lawful and practical
solution. This advancement demonstrates independent utility, serves
existing and projected transportation demand and can function regardless of
future decisions on southern alignments.

3. The rest of the corridor
is environmentally distinct from the contested portions of the corridor and
does not raise the same land-use or protected-resource concerns at issue in the
lawsuit.

4. Segmenting the project
is consistent with federal highway administration precedent and long-standing
national environmental policy act practice, allowing discrete projects to
advance when the segments stand on separate merit.

5. Moving forward with tier
2 does not undermine the ongoing litigation. It simply ensures this
state can continue responsible, incremental planning where legally permissible.

6. Interstate 11 is
critical to Arizona's economic future, improving freight movement, supporting
regional growth, enhancing interstate commerce and increasing safety for
rapidly growing communities.