Protect South Mountain

03/13/2015

March 12, 2015 On March 5th, 2015, the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) released their Record of Decision (ROD) in favor of building the South Mountain Freeway. The ROD is a document that giv...

04/19/2014

Once ADOT does receive a record of decision PARC is prepared to take them to court to stop the freeway, arguing the proposed project will violate environmental and cultural laws. The group has hosted several fundraisers and has raised $100,000 to cover court costs. They estimate they’ll need close to $500,000 in the end.

It has been almost a year since the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the South Mountain Freeway. ADOT is still saying it expects a decision to be made on the project by the end of 2014.

04/06/2014

Loop 202 Public-Private Partnership Rejected but Another P3 a possibility

This blog is based in the Phoenix-area which is occupied O'odham land, hence the focus on this regional area, despite being opposed to the entire CANAMEX concept. The research was motivated largely by the interest of tying the struggle against the Tar Sands in Alberta to the struggle against the Loo...

09/30/2013

Some of the reasons not to build the extension is due to the proposals plan to cut through South Mountain, which is considered sacred by many, Calles said.

“Obviously cutting through it some would feel like it would be cutting through someone’s church and putting a freeway there,” Calles said. “Phoenix’s benefit is coming at a cost to Ahwatukee."

During Tuesday night’s meeting, Kyrene School District Governing Board members discussed the South Mountain Loop 202 Freeway extension.

09/01/2013

Great editorial from PARC member Connie Squires in the East Valley Tribune.

For years, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) have been spouting a story of how the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway (SMF) will save our Valley from traffic congestion and air pollution. Now that experts have weighed in, it is clear that…

08/12/2013

"Opposition to the freeway is strong and justified whether or not it would involve private partners. The issue is whether the pro-P3 entities have the power to push this project, and what the consequences would be. Are the P3 arrangements and CANAMEX something the public knows about or even wants? Would this set a precedent for increasing privatization?"

This blog is based in the Phoenix-area which is occupied O'odham land, hence the focus on this regional area, despite being opposed to the entire CANAMEX concept. The research was motivated largely by the interest of tying the struggle against the Tar Sands in Alberta to the struggle against the Loo...

06/10/2013

No-build supporters and their allies attended the hearing wearing white shirts with “Loop 202” written in red bracketed by the words “Caution” and “Bio-hazard.” They do not want South Mountain touched, nor do they want the freeway built at all because of the disproportionate pollution it would bring to the west end of the Community.

The controversy that surrounds the proposed Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway was on full display May 21, as supporters and detractors flocked to a public hearing at the Phoenix Convention Center to provide comment on a draft study of the proposed freeway’s impacts.

04/11/2013

This Friday!

Contact: Akimel O'odham Youth Collective Email: [email protected] Phone: 520-350-0603 Come voice your opposition to the proposed South Mountain Loop 202 freeway extension during the Arizona ...

04/11/2013

Help spread the word! Statewide call-in Tomorrow and Friday

Please help support the efforts of O'odham youth traveling to Tucson to protest the Arizona Department of Transportation's 5-year plan. We are calling for a state-wide Cal-in to help tell ADOT just...

03/26/2013

Muscogee (Creek), Akimel O'odham, and Diné speak out on the struggle to defend sacred sites outside of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) conference in Phoenix. Muscogee people traveled to protest at NIGA as they are trying to halt the construction of a casino which is desecrating a burial site on their traditional lands in Alabama.

03/26/2013

Hickory Ground sacred sites solidarity demonstration happening now at the National Indian Gaming Association conference at the Phoenix Convention center. No Loop 202, Protect the San Francisco Peaks, and No Casino on Sacred Land! For more information on the Hickory Ground issue, check out this story at Censored News. http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/03/sacred-lands-rally-during-niga-in.html

03/07/2013

Want to voice your opposition to ADOT about the 202 but can't make it to a protest, send a letter to ADOT! We have made it easy for you. Just go to our new page and print one out and send it. Or better yet, use it as a guide and hand-write one of your own and send it!

We have a new page under to help freeway resistors send letters of opposition to the Arizona Department of Transportation. You can jump onto our "Letters of Opposition Page" which is under our Take...