Infrastructure

Water

Recent headlines may lead you to believe that Arizona is out of water, or not a good steward of water and that all development is coming to a halt. I have heard these concerns from my neighbors down the street to friends that live halfway across the country. Let me start by saying that Buckeye’s water future is secure. It is not in danger.

We currently have enough water resources to sustain our existing customers and the projected growth that already have certificates of assured water supply. Plus, Water Resources staff have been working for years to diversify our water portfolio. Buckeye recently entered into a purchase agreement for one-acre of land in the Harquahala Valley, about 60 miles west, that includes nearly 6,000 acre-feet of water per year for the next 100 years.

Along with recharging 2,500 acrefeet of effluent each year, the city’s recently approved Drought Management Plan and strict water conversation codes for new development, help prepare us for the future. However, we are also very aware there is a lot more work to accomplish.

There will not be one single solution to the water challenges. It will require time and collaboration with other cities and local and regional agencies. Buckeye will be there every step of the way to ensure our water future is safe and sustainable, securing our future and the future of the entire West Valley, Maricopa County and the great state of Arizona.

Public Safety

FIRE DEPARTMENT

• Designs for the new Blue Horizons Fire Station are nearly complete

• Construction is scheduled for completion by early 2025

• 15 firefighters are currently enrolled in the academy

POLICE DEPARTMENT

• Construction will begin soon on the new Police Communications Center

• Includes updated technology for 9-1-1 and dispatch operations

• Designed to grow with the city

Streets & Roads

Our Streets and Engineering staff have been doing their part on making the streets of Buckeye safer and easier to navigate.

• New traffic signals are operating on Miller Road at both Southern Avenue and Broadway Road.

• The bridge over Tuthill Wash at Thomas Road is complete, and the completion of Thomas Road is targeted for this summer.

• Improvements to Roosevelt Street between Verrado Way and Jackrabbit Trail includes a fourlane street with a new traffic signal at Jackrabbit Trail. Work is expected to be finished this fall.

The construction along I-10 will be wrapping up later this year with two new interchanges at Miller and Watson roads, plus an extra travel lane in each direction from Verrado Way to SR 85.

For the past year, Buckeye has worked with the Maricopa Association of Government and ADOT to help with funding another travel lane from Citrus Way to SR 85. The good news is ADOT has already started the design plans and if all goes well, this project will coincide with the construction of a new interchange at Jackrabbit Trail and I-10.

Jackrabbit Trail and I-10

We feel the same way you do about this intersection. It is awful and very complicated. Buckeye has committed $5 million towards improving this interchange, which has an overall price tag of $70 million to complete.

For the past year, we have been working to secure additional funding at the state and federal level. On March 7, we reached a major milestone when the Arizona House of Representatives approved funding for this project. The bill is now in the Senate awaiting action.

Sundance Park Phase II

The expansion of Sundance Park is expected to be completed this fall and include a 3-acre fishing lake, shaded playground, additional ramadas and restrooms, splash pad and more sports fields for soccer and football. These great amenities will be ready to use once construction is complete, so get ready for a city-wide celebration!