Buckeye is pushing forward with an aggressive growth strategy aimed at transforming the city into a major economic hub in the West Valley, but Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn warns that the community’s future could hinge on securing critical state funding for long-awaited transportation projects.
During his recent State of the City presentation, Orsborn says Buckeye is pursuing a dual strategy: rapidly expanding commercial and residential development to grow tax revenues while simultaneously building the infrastructure needed to support a booming population.
That growth is perhaps most visible at Verrado Marketplace, the city’s flagship retail development led by Vestar.
The first phase of the project is scheduled to open this month and will feature major retailers including HomeGoods, Target, Marshalls and Ulta Beauty.
Orsborn estimates the development will create more than 750 jobs while generating new sales tax revenue to support city services such as roads, police and fire protection.
Orsborn says the project is expected to become a major catalyst for development along the Interstate 10 corridor.
The city’s economic development efforts extend beyond Verrado Marketplace. A recently opened Fry’s Food Stores location on Miller Road is already driving additional growth in the area, while future commercial expansion is planned along Roosevelt Street and Sun Valley Parkway to support communities including Tartesso, Terravella and Festival.
At the same time, Buckeye is investing in its historic downtown district through a separate revitalization effort focused on attracting locally owned businesses and creating a stronger sense of community identity.
Businesses including The Heritage at Old Town, Viet Table and Good Roots are among the businesses helping anchor the city’s Downtown Specific Area Plan, which emphasizes walkability, arts, culture and community events.
To keep pace with population growth, Buckeye’s Capital Improvement Projects department is overseeing several major infrastructure upgrades funded through city revenues, bonds and state funding sources.
One of the most significant projects involves improvements at Jackrabbit Trail and McDowell Road, where the mayor said the city hopes to improve traffic flow and emergency response times.
The city is also expanding Jackrabbit Trail between McDowell and Thomas roads while coordinating with the Arizona Department of Transportation on interchange construction and roadway improvements extending south to Van Buren Street.
Orsoborn said he expects the corridor from Great Hearts Academy to Thomas Road to be fully built out with traffic signals within two years.
Public safety infrastructure is also expanding alongside the city’s population boom.
Buckeye is planning two new fire stations and developing a police and fire training facility designed to support a growing number of first responders.
The city has additionally invested in upgrades to the Joe Foss Shooting Complex in south Buckeye, which now includes a 200-yard shooting range, trap and skeet facilities and a developing archery range. Since reopening last August, the facility has served nearly 6,000 visitors and is used by Buckeye, Goodyear and Surprise police departments for training exercises.
Orsborn says Technology is also becoming a larger part of Buckeye’s public safety strategy.
The city recently launched a Real-Time Information Center, or RTIC, which centralizes police technology including citywide cameras, license plate readers and a drone-first-responder program.
Orsborn says the RTIC has improved officer awareness during emergencies and has already helped investigators solve crimes and analyze traffic accidents by allowing operators to quickly review recorded footage.
Despite the city’s rapid development momentum, Orsborn says one project remains critical to Buckeye’s future growth: the widening of Interstate 10.
The first phase of the I-10 widening project would expand the freeway from Citrus Road to Verrado Way and add an HOV lane in both directions. According to Orsborn, the project has already been fully designed and a contractor has been selected by ADOT.
However, funding that had previously been appropriated for the project was later removed from the governor’s proposed state budget, creating uncertainty about when construction could begin.
Orsborn is now urging residents to contact the governor’s office and state lawmakers to push for the funding to be restored during the current legislative session.
Orsborn describes the I-10 expansion as a crucial project needed to manage traffic generated by developments such as Verrado Marketplace and the broader population growth occurring across the West Valley.
The funding battle highlights a growing reality for Buckeye: While the city continues to attract private investment and large-scale development at a rapid pace, many of the roads, transportation systems and public safety facilities needed to sustain that growth remain dependent on state-level funding decisions outside the city’s direct control.
One Response
Nice job everyone.