San Luis, Arizona – Council Member Matias Rosales was recognized as one of Arizona's Transportation Champions during the 25th Annual Arizona Rural Transportation Summit. The award, presented by San Luis Council Member Maria Cecilia Cruz, highlights his unwavering dedication to enhancing transportation infrastructure in the region.
Council Member Cruz emphasized Rosales's commitment by stating, "Council Member Matias Rosales truly understands the critical role of transportation in commerce and community development, especially concerning the modernization of the San Luis I Port of Entry and the widening of Cesar Chavez Boulevard." She noted that after twelve years of relentless advocacy, both projects have secured vital federal and state funding and are now on the path to becoming a reality for the San Luis community.
The San Luis I Port of Entry has received an impressive allocation of $307 million and is currently under construction, with completion anticipated by 2028. Meanwhile, the Cesar Chavez Boulevard project has obtained design funding from the federal appropriations committee and Arizona Smart Funds, state legislative support, and a $65 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation Rural Surface Transportation. This initiative will transform a 5-mile two-lane rural cross-section roadway into an urban four-lane multimodal corridor, complete with new pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure. The project is currently under design and will start construction in 2025.
"This recognition inspires me to continue advocating for improved infrastructure and transportation solutions that benefit all of Arizona," said Council Member Matias Rosales. "This success could not have been possible without the incredible team at San Luis and the Arizona Department of Transportation. Let's keep pushing for progress," he concluded.
This year's Transportation Champions also include Chino Valley Mayor-Elect Tom Armstrong, Mr. Mark Woodson, Ms. Sandy Stutey, Mayor Micah Powell, the Flagstaff Downtown Connection Center, the SR-69 Expansion Project, the SR-189 Modernization Project, and Route 66.
