Arizona 2030




Preparing for an Arizona of 10 Million People:
Meeting the Infrastructure Challenges of Growth

November 17, 2008 • Arizona State University, Tempe Campus • Memorial Union

Cosponsored by
Arizona State University
Arizona Investment Council
Thomas R. Brown Foundations • The Communications Institute

in association with
County Supervisors Association of Arizona ▪ League of Arizona Cities and Towns
Arizona Republic ▪ Arizona Daily Star ▪ Arizona Capitol Times


Arizona faces major challenges in the future, but the rapid growth that has increased demands on the state’s infrastructure is the primary test confronting the public and private sectors. There is a serious need to recognize and plan for the essential elements of serving a state of 10 million people including: education, energy, health care, public safety, telecommunication, transportation, water and wastewater.

Researchers at Arizona State University have just completed a comprehensive, two-year study of the state’s infrastructure needs over the next 25 years, and identified several critical conclusions:

* The construction of the state's infrastructure has not kept pace with the state's growth over the last 15 years.
* Arizona's existing physical infrastructure is aging, leading to an increased need for renovation.
* Arizona's recent population and employment growth has been the greatest ever and this rapid growth is expected to continue, creating a substantial demand for new infrastructure.
* The costs of putting quality infrastructure in place have increased substantially in recent years.
* Support from the federal government is lagging, so state and local governments and the private sector are now responsible for an increased share of the infrstructure costs.

A state-wide forum was held on Monday, November 17 when the results of the study were presented. The follow-up discussion included comments from legislators, leaders in the public and private sectors, along with your input. Arizona has a bright future but the challenges are real and will require a collective will of all sectors of the public to the meet them. The November 17 forum began that process.

Registration/Information: Click here to register, and click here to view the agenda. The program was funded with the support of the Thomas R. Brown Foundations.

Keynote Address:

Norman Mineta, former United States Secretary of Transportation;
Vice Chairman, Hill & Knowlton, Inc.

Panelists:

Special Welcome: Michael Crow, Ph. D., President, Arizona State University

* Molly Castelazo, Associate Consultant, L. William Seidman Research Institute, ASU
* Matthew Croucher, Ph.D., Economist, L. William Seidman Research Institute, ASU
* Eugene Garcia, Ph.D., V.P. for Education Partnerships, Arizona State University
* Dennis Hoffman, Ph.D., Director & Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Programs, ASU
* Timothy James, Ph.D., Research Professor in Economics, ASU
* Phil Lopes, Leader, House Democrats, Arizona House of Representatives (D-District 27)
* John Nelson, Chairman, County, Municipal and Military Committee, Arizona House of Representatives (R-District 12)
* Gary Pierce, Commissioner, Arizona Corporation Commission
* William Post, Chairman, Arizona Public Service
* Tom Rex, Associate Director, Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research, ASU
* John R. Rivers, President/CEO, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association
* Matt Ryan, Supervisor, Coconio County
* Shannon Scutari, Policy Advisor for Growth and Infrastructure, Office of the Governor of the State of Arizona
* John Shadegg, Member, United States Congress (R-District 3)
* Scott Smith, Mayor, City of Mesa, Arizona
* Jack Tomasik, Planning Director, Central Arizona Association of Governments
* Gary Yaquinto, President, Arizona Investment Council