Major highway development can lead to increased development due to availability of
improved transportation access, capacity and connections to other roadways. Increased
traffic congestion and civilian activities close to FMR decreases the value of the
installation for military training. Major roadways can also result in increased light
pollution from traffic which can impact FMR nighttime training operations. See
Background Report Section 5.11 for additional discussion on light and glare impacts.
It is important that the final route selected for the highway connecting US 60 and I‐10 be
compatible with AZARNG training operations at FMR and the Rittenhouse Training Site.
Failure to do so could degrade the AZARNG’s ability to effectively and efficiently train
personnel in support of wartime deployments and state civil emergencies.
Issue:
IE‐2
AZARNG Site: The proposed access road to Pinal Airpark
could spur future growth and land
Silverbell
Army Heliport development.
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors has
approved the acquisition of land to construct an
access road from the community of Red Rock to
Pinal Airpark, which could induce land
development that may impact operations at the
Silverbell Army Heliport.
Compatibility Assessment
The 2015 Pinal County Comprehensive Plan identifies Red Rock as one of four strategic
growth areas in the county. Goal 3.8 of the plan is to develop Red Rock as the Southern
Pinal County economic center. Supporting policy 3.8.1.3 associated with this goal and
documented in the Plan is to, “Capitalize on the multimodal infrastructure and identify
and plan for suitable transit‐oriented developments where possible.” Developing Red
Rock into an economic center will require government infrastructure investments to
include improved transportation and roadways for both residential and commercial use.
In 2018, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors released the updated Five‐Year
Transportation Improvement and Maintenance Program (TIMP). This document is Pinal
County’s near‐term transportation plan that identifies potential funding and establishes a
tentative schedule for planning, construction, and maintenance projects. A planned
project improvement included in the plan is to construct a three‐mile Red Rock Access
Road from Red Rock to Pinal Airpark Road. Funds in the amount of $250,000 are
identified in budget year 2020‐21 to initiate pre‐construction activities for the future
road development. The pre‐construction activities are identified for environmental
clearance and right of way property acquisitions.
5-48
Compatibility Assessment