PHOENIX -- The Arizona Department of Transportation announced plans on Thursday to shut down 13 highway rest areas, consider closing 12 Motor Vehicle Division offices, defer $370 million in highway construction projects and cut 10 percent of its staff.
ADOT officials said the cuts are needed to close a $100 million budget shortfall.
ADOT Director John Halikowski said more than $500 million in transportation funding has been cut in the past year by lawmakers trying to close a huge state budget shortfall.
"Drivers will continue to see projects being built across the state because the federal government sends money to Arizona for highway construction," Halikowski said. "That money is restricted by federal and state laws to pay for construction activities and cannot be used for general operations, such as MVD services."
The 13 rest areas will close beginning on Oct. 19. Five other state rest areas will remain open.
Rest areas impacted are: Bouse Wash, Canoa Ranch, Ehrenberg, Hassayampa, Haviland, Mazatzal, McGuireville, Meteor Crater, Mohawk, Parks, Salt River Canyon, San Simon, and Sacaton. Two of these facilities - Mazatzal and Salt River Canyon - are already closed due to water system issues.
A review of which MVD offices to close is under way. Saturday hours also will be eliminated on Nov. 1.
ADOT has received $350 million in federal stimulus funding, but state funding for other projects will be cut by $370 million over the next four years.
This is the second year of major cost reductions for ADOT. Last fiscal year, ADOT aggressively took action to cut $60 million by reducing employee expenses, requiring employees to furlough one work day per pay period, cutting highway maintenance activities, reducing operational costs and eliminating consultants and other support costs.
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