The Western Way (TWW), an organization led by conservative leaders, is working to drive free-market conservation policies in western states, with its newest chapter in Arizona.

With ninety-two percent of federal land located within 12 western states, TWW believes western states will benefit most from conservative free market solutions to environmental challenges facing their areas.

Recently, the organization created an Arizona chapter, naming Jaime Molera as the State Director. Members of the advisory committee include Representative Rusty Bowers, Representative T.J. Shope, Senator Karen Fann, State Land Commissioner Lisa Atkins, President and CEO of Valley Partnership Cheryl Lombard, and Chief Public Affairs Executive and Associate General Manager of Salt River Project Peter Hayes.

“The Western Way, an organization committed to sensible conservative solutions to address environmental issues, is thrilled to have these Arizona leaders to be a part of our effort,” commented Molera. “Being able to address environmental concerns specific to Arizona with experts such as these will give us a strong perspective going forward.”

These issues are also important to Arizonans. According to a study conducted by TWW, shifts to environmentally friendly policy have been met with approval by western conservatives. In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, 94 percent of conservatives want elected officials to pursue energy efficient policies.

“To work with an organization that seems truly grounded in real solutions to western issues has been really fun to do,” said TWW member Representative Shope. “Western issues are very near and dear to my heart.”

Although TWW supports pursuing energy efficient policies, the organization recognizes that Proposition 127, the initiative backed by California billionaire Tom Steyer to mandate renewable energy standards, is wrong for Arizona. The group recently released the following statement:

“Proposition 127 attempts to amend the Arizona Constitution with an energy policy that does not consider our state’s unique landscape or environment. We need sensible policies tailored specifically for Arizona’s needs such as Corporation Commissioner Andy Tobin’s comprehensive Energy Modernization Plan. ��Energy policies should accommodate Arizona residents so that they will not see a drastic increase in their energy bills. The Initiative’s requirement to eliminate emissions free nuclear energy will result in the closure of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, eliminating quality jobs for thousands of Arizona families, and have a devastating economic impact on our entire state. ��Because this extreme Initiative does not support Arizona’s environment, or Arizona’s citizens, The Western Way cannot support Prop 127.”

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From the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona to Saguaro National Park in Tucson to the bustling city in the Valley of the Sun, Arizona is an attractive tourist destination. Last year, Arizona broke records in the tourism department with 43.9 million overnight visitors who spent $22.7 billion. In 2017 alone, tourists generated $3.4 billion in tax revenue and added 320,000 hospitality jobs, proving that tourism is a vital part of Arizona’s economy.

In the last month, representatives from Smith Travel Research, Inc. (STR) and the Arizona Tourism and Lodging Association traveled around the state, releasing tourism projections for Northern Arizona, Tucson, and Phoenix. STR highlighted Phoenix, Tucson and Northern Arizona tourism projections in comparison to national forecasts. ��

“The reports by STR support a continued trajectory for increased visitation and business,” said Drennon. “We set a record with 43.9��million people��visiting Arizona in 2017, as recorded by the Arizona Office of Tourism, and based on these three forecasts we should be well positioned to keep attracting more people to discover this great state.”Tucson is attracting visitors at the fastest rate, projected to outpace the state and nation in occupancy, revenue per available room, and the average daily rate. Phoenix will be relatively consistent with the nation’s growth rate, but occupancy rates are expected to surpass the national prediction. Northern Arizona will be slightly behind the nation and the rest of the state, trailing in most categories. Nevertheless, Executive Vice President of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association David Drennon is optimistic about STR’s projections.

2017 was a record breaking year for Arizona tourism. Yet, based on STR’s trajectory report, Arizonans can expect tourism to surpass 2017’s success, becoming an increasingly impactful economic stimulus.

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New York-based Blackstone Group, one of the world’s largest real estate investors, recently purchased six apartment complexes in Arizona, securing a deep stake in the state’s real estate market. With the addition of six apartment complexes worth $311 million, Blackstone retains a total of $898 million in Arizona real estate.

Their recent purchase is part of a ten year investment in Arizona’s real estate market that began during the housing crisis. During the crash, Blackstone acquired millions of dollars in foreclosure homes. In April of this year, Blackstone purchased the famous Arizona Biltmore Resort, and in the following two months, they spent $120 million on nine mobile-home parks in Mesa and Apache Junction. Blackstone wasted no time after the mobile-home purchase, buying a Glendale apartment complex for $64.5 million in the same month.

The six apartment complexes spanning from Chandler to Surprise include: Luminere in Chandler, Sierra Canyon in Glendale, Waterford in Peoria, Finisterra in Tempe, Sierra Foothills in Phoenix, and Stadium Village in Surprise.

Blackstone’s interest in Arizona’s real estate market is likely based on population projections. A 10-year forecast released by the Office of Economic Opportunity predicts an additional one million residents will move to the state by 2026.

Arizona’s population growth rate is surpassing state and national averages, according to Jim Chang of the Office of Economic Opportunity. “The national average is about 0.7 percent and we’re at about 1.5 percent,” he said. “The Arizona population in most years has outpaced the national population growth.”

The value of real estate in Arizona is increasing, and population projections suggest that this trend will continue. Blackstone has targeted areas with favorable population projections, specifically Phoenix, Peoria, and Surprise.

Based on the Maricopa Association of Governments’ 35-year plan, Phoenix’s population is expected to increase by more than 43 percent, reaching a population of 2.19 million by 2050. Peoria’s population is expected to swell by 83 percent, and Surprise is presumed to hold nearly triple the number of residents.

Arizona homebuilders have been working to meet the housing demands of the growing population. This year, Phoenix homebuilding hit a record high, with the value of homes increasing by 50 percent since 2010. Like Arizona’s homebuilders, Blackstone is bracing for new residents and an increase in the value of their real estate.

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Gila Community College recently partnered with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to offer students the opportunity to participate in ADOT’s Construction Academy. The Academy prepares individuals to enter highway construction trades or apprenticeship and successfully obtain journeyman status.

The Academy prides itself on excellent workforce development through collaboration with contractors, according to program manager Corey Foster.

This is reflected in the classes the Academy offers. Students can study a variety of topics, ranging from highway painting to computers and technology to resume writing.

In the construction industry, Foster believes that excellent job training is crucial to success in the field. “The industry focuses on credentials,” he said. “They want to know you can perform.” Upon graduation, the Academy’s hope is that every student will have an extensive resume of skills relevant to the construction industry.

Arizona is expected to gain one million new residents and nearly 543,00 new jobs by 2026. The state’s population spike will require transportation system renovations and expansions, which is why the Academy is committed to preparing its students to be meaningful contributors immediately upon entering the field.

The Academy has partnered with several community colleges including Gateway, Pima, Yavapai and its most recent partner Gila Community College. “Gila has been really strong with expanding their operation,” commented Foster. “They have a great board in their college.”

In its first year, the Academy has helped 450 people to gain employment, and Foster and his team are working to expand their reach. Based on ADOT’s 5-year plan which assesses ��the transportation needs of different areas in the state, the Academy is able to decide which partnerships to pursue. They are currently working to expand to Tucson, Yuma, and rural areas in the state.

Since its founding, the ADOT Construction Academy has seen success in employing its students and developing partnerships, and anticipates further success in the years to come.

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Arizona is moving up in national rankings and this time it is for teacher pay. According to a new report by the Arizona Tax Research Association the state will move up to #16 for average teacher pay after Governor Ducey’s 20X2020 is fully implemented.��

Earlier this year, Governor Ducey proposed a 20 percent pay raise for teachers by 2020, and the legislature approved the three-year plan in May. The plan provides school districts and charter schools with an estimated 9 percent increase for teachers this year and the full 20 percent by 2020.

There has been much debate over how to measure teacher pay and how to adjust for the cost of living, according to Sean McCarthy, Senior Research Analyst at ATRA. “Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, which fails to capture hundreds of millions in Prop 301 sales tax monies and other funds paid out biannually, is intellectually dishonest,” he said. “Using National Education Association pay averages, which closely aligns to what our state auditor reports, and adjusting it by the nationally accepted Cost of Living Index is the appropriate measure for average teacher pay.”

Using National Education Association data and adjusting for the cost of living, Ducey’s plan will elevate Arizona from #40 to #16 in national teacher pay, according to a report from ATRA released earlier this year. The average teacher salary is expected to be $56,000, a considerable jump from $47,000.

While recent increases are moving Arizona in the right direction, the state still has a long way to go to meet its education funding needs, according to President and CEO of Expect More Arizona Christine Thompson. “We agree with many of the K-12 funding challenges highlighted in the recent report from ATRA and encourage all stakeholders to work together and think comprehensively about how to achieve a P-20 education system that meets the demands of our economy and all of our students.”

Arizona ranks #49 in the nation in the percentage of the population between ages 18 and 64 and #45 for total personal income per K-12 student. With few taxpayers and a limited revenue stream relative to other states, funding for teacher salaries has been sparse, until now.

With a dramatic state investment enabled by Arizona’s economic success, the state’s relative teacher pay ranking will increase. Schools across the state have implemented significant pay increases for teachers and support staff as a result of the new resources.

“Our study indicated that real progress in teacher pay was an achievable policy goal, unlike significantly increasing our per pupil current spending ranking, which is not,” said McCarthy. “The interesting phenomenon is the Legislature increased funding without a legal mandate, only a request to spend it on teacher pay. Local Education Agencies overwhelmingly followed the legislative intent throughout the state.”

With support from local residents and the promise of increased pay, Arizona is establishing itself as a desirable location for exceptional teachers.

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As the Primary Election nears, analysts and politicos across the state are closely monitoring early ballot returns to gauge what to expect on election night, August 28th. Early ballots have begun to trickle in across the state as deadline to submit early ballots approaches on August 22nd.

Within Arizona, there are currently 1.26 million registered Republicans, 1.09 million Democrats, and 1.22 million unaffiliated voters. With such close margins, tracking returns is a key strategy for campaigns.

George Khalaf, President of Data Orbital, has been monitoring the returns daily and has noticed some interesting trends that differ from the 2016 and 2014 election cycles.

According to Khalaf, the 2018 returns are currently lagging compared with 2016 (but are quickly catching up) and are outpacing 2014 by a healthy margin. “Right now turnout is about equal by party to where we were in 2016 with the slight exception that Republicans are actually about a percent down, so from 20.3% to 19.4% when we compare apples to apples today versus today in 2016.”��

The trend that is catching most attention is the shift in ballot preference by voters who have not designated a party, also known as Independents. These voters are able to participate in the primary election by requesting a partisan ballot. Arizona’s independent voters have an impact on election outcomes, but this year independents are requesting democrat ballots at a higher rate.

“That’s one of the more interesting points that we’ve seen so far this cycle that there are actually slightly more independents voting comparative to same day in previous years and they are more likely to choose to vote in democratic primaries,” Khalaf noted.

According to Khalaf, the margin between Independents who requested a Republican versus Democrat ballot in 2014 was 27 percent and in 2016 was 21 percent. But this year it has dropped to 6 percent. “So [it is] a massive disparity. Only about 53 percent of independents are choosing to vote in the GOP primary vs. 47 percent that are choosing to vote in the democratic primary.”

One legislative district Khalaf said has particularly caught his eye is Legislative District 18, which includes parts of Tempe, Chandler, Mesa and southern Phoenix. The district ranks sixth in the state in total population and fifth in population density. For the first time, the district has a 450 voter democratic advantage, a drastic shift from the GOP’s 1,500 voter advantage just two years ago. “For the first time comparative to the last 2 election cycles we’re actually seeing more folks partake in the democratic primary than we’re seeing them partake in the GOP primary,” Khalaf said.

Although primary election results will inform the general election ballot, Khalaf cautions using those results as a predictor for November noting that this year’s election cycle has just begun.

“Everything we’re seeing so far, I don’t think is able to be correlated to the general [election] because we’re still talking peanut differences when it comes to the election as a whole.”

Khalaf believes that pollsters will get a clearer picture of what to expect for Arizona’s general election as more ballots arrive in the next week, “That’s going to be critical to see how we end up comparative to the two previous years.”

For more information about early ballot returns, visit:

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Although early voting has started for the Primary Election, a lot of attention has been focused on the initiatives slated for the November ballot. Many are aware of three of the ballot initiatives which are currently in the middle of legal challenges, but there are a few other proposals that voters will consider this fall.

Prop 125: Public Retirement Systems

HCR 2032 would make adjustments to retirement plans based on cost-of-living, instead of permanent benefit increases, for correctional officers, probation officers, surveillance officers (Corrections Officer Retirement Plan or CORP) and elected officials (Elected Officials’ Retirement Plan or EORP).

The Arizona Constitution provides that public retirement system benefits shall not be diminished or impaired. This ballot referral “would amend the constitution to create an exception to the prohibition against diminishing or impairing public retirement system benefits by allowing for certain adjustments” to CORP and EORP. Specific to CORP, Senate Bill 1442 will replace the current permanent benefit increase with 15 new compounding cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retired corrections officer members and survivors of retired correction members who were hired on or after July 1, 2018. On the same token, House Bill 2545 would amend EORP by replacing current permanent benefit increases with a new compounding COLA for retired elected official members and survivors of retired elected official members. The bills regarding cost of living adjustments were already signed into law and are not subject to voter approval.

Lawmakers who support amending the state constitution to allow legislative changes to retirement plans want to ensure Arizona’s future financial stability. The initiative has faced opposition from police and fire unions who fear future pension reductions, but sponsor of the initiative, Representative David Livingston, is confident that change is necessary. “We’re fixing how the inflation rider works by changing from a policy, management, and budget (PMB) rider to a cost of living rider,” he said. “It’s a simple fix, but it will have a very positive effect on pensions and beneficiaries. That’s why we had 100 percent support in the house and senate.”

Prop 306: Clean Elections

��This legislative referral would make changes to the current Citizens Clean Election Act, which provides public funding for candidates for statewide and state legislative offices. It would prohibit candidates from making direct or indirect payments from their campaign account to a political party or a “private tax-exempt organization that is eligible to engage in activities to influence the outcome of a candidate election.”

The referral would also remove the Citizens Clean Election Commission’s exemption from Arizona’s rulemaking requirements and require the commission to receive approval from the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council to finalize any rule changes.

The initiative’s greatest support comes from the Stop Taxpayer Money for Political Parties Committee, led by Scott Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, who believes that Arizona needs to regulate the reach of government funding within political campaigns.

Prop 126: Protect Arizona Taxpayers Act��

This initiative would amend the state’s constitution, prohibiting all government entities (state, county, municipal, and other subdivisions/taxing districts) from imposing new or increasing transaction-based taxes, fees, stamp requirements, or assessments on any services performed in the state or the gross receipts of sales/services performed here. It will not repeal any tax, fee, stamp requirement, or assessment that was put into effect before December 31, 2017.

If it passes, the initiative would provide constitutional security to prevent future taxes on certain family, healthcare, personal, and professional services.

“This policy change is being pursued because several legislators, candidates for Governor and political pundits are talking about adding a new tax on all services,” said Holly Mabery,

Chairperson for Citizens for Fair Tax Policy. “The Protect Arizona Taxpayers Act will prevent damaging sales taxes from being placed on services. A new service tax unfairly burdens small businesses; our services and labor must be defended.”

The above-mentioned initiatives are not currently facing a legal challenge and are poised to be on the November ballot.

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From South Mountain to Sahuarita, Arizona schools are growing to serve more students. Take a look at four schools across Arizona providing a quality education by implementing innovative education ideas and expanding their reach to more students in the state.

College-like feel in South Mountain

South Phoenix is a competitive school market, with several dozen district and charter schools. To better serve students, South Mountain High School, part of the Phoenix Union High School District, underwent a $30 million transformation, separating the comprehensive high school into four different academies with an emphasis on workforce development.

The college-like campus, renamed The Academies at South Mountain, provides students access to specialized curriculum, but also to the sports, facilities and counselors of traditional high schools.

Phoenix Union already has several small specialized schools, such as Bioscience Academy and Phoenix Coding Academy. But, the waitlists are long and due to the large size of the district, the campuses are not convenient for all students. So, the district is bringing those specialized programs to its comprehensive high schools.

“It’s a big school advantage with a small school experience,” said Craig Petinak, communications director at Phoenix Union High School District.

If successful, Phoenix Union plans to expand the model to more schools, beginning with Trevor Browne, the district’s largest school.

Growing great schools in low-income communities

Academies of Math and Science (AMS), a network of public charter schools, is known for its history of academic excellence, winning the 2016 Arizona Public Charter School of the Year. AMS was the first public school system to earn a spot in the Credit Enhancement Program, which provides schools access to lower interest rates, reducing the cost of new facilities. Those reduced rates allow Arizona’s best schools to replicate and serve more students.

The Credit Enhancement Program has saved the network nearly $2 million, putting more funding back into the classroom rather than interest payments.

“A great education at scale is not possible without adequate resources,” said AMS Chief Financial Officer Steven Hykes.��“The Credit Enhancement Program has been instrumental in us expanding our program from 2,000 scholars as of the end of May 2017 to a projected 3,900 scholars that we will serve in August 2018. We save a significant amount of money all of which goes right back into our schools to create a world-class education for all the scholars we serve.”

AMS is not done growing yet. Hykes said the network’s goal is to serve more than 10,000 students in low-income neighborhoods across Arizona by August 2022. ��

Expanding access to Prescott middle school students

For the last decade, Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy has been providing a quality education to 160 high school students in Prescott. The high school prides itself on its small group style learning experience that gives students individual attention and fosters accelerated academic progress. One issue that Northpoint identified is that students entering freshman year routinely require academic intervention in math. Wanting to boost math skills prior to high school, Northpoint is expanding to apply its small group learning model to students in middle school.

The new school, which opened on Aug. 6, will serve 50 students in grades 7-8 and have six full-time staff members.

The Expeditionary Learning Model inspires students to become self-motivated learners and challenges them to think critically and take active roles in their classrooms and communities, said Northpoint’s middle school director Melissa Wagoner.

“The Expeditionary Learning Model is a powerful pedagogy to add to the mix,” she said. “We are thrilled to add another option for parents and students for middle school in Prescott.”

By applying ELM at a young age, students will take a strong foundation in critical thinking and problem solving into high school and beyond, she said.

Sahuarita expands to meet community demand

Sahuarita Unified School District is in a rapidly growing community south of Tucson, adding nearly 1,300 students over the last five years. With the help of a $25 million bond approved by voters last year and 90 acres of donated land, Sahuarita is opening a brand new elementary school in January 2018.

Wrightson K-8 School will include classrooms, multi-use and fine arts spaces, athletic fields, and play areas. Funds raised by the community will not only support the new school, but also the replacement of old portable buildings on Sahuarita’s main campus on Sahuarita Road, said Sahuarita Unified School District Superintendent Manuel Valenzuela.

“It is a partnership with our town, businesses in our region, and different cross sector organizations,” he said. “By accommodating the growth of our community, this school will advance our mission of providing 21st century education for the success of each student, which is a mutually beneficial outcome for all.”

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A multi-front trade war has escalated tensions with global partners and is causing concern for industry as well as American workers and consumers.

First up, China.

U.S. trade with other nations is worth $4.9 trillion per year, and China is the country’s biggest trade partner, exporting almost $479 billion goods and services to the U.S. every year. Both countries rely heavily on imports from the other as well as the increasing demand for goods to support jobs and promote productivity. That is why President Trump’s “America First” policies, which apply tariffs on our biggest trading partners, have been met with concern.

Trade wars tend to escalate. On June 15, The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released a list covering $50 billion worth of Chinese imports subject to a 25 percent tariff. The list primarily includes manufactured products, raw materials, and capital equipment. The first set of tariffs worth $34 billion went into effect on July 6.

In response, China announced it will impose retaliatory tariffs that mirror the ones imposed by the United States. The first set of tariffs began on July 6, the same day the U.S. imposed tariffs on China. The White House responded by releasing a list of $200 billion in products that could be subject to an additional 10 percent tariff. The administration threatened an additional $200 billion if the Chinese were to retaliate further.

On July 19, China demonstrated that it would not back down with the threat of future tariffs from the United States, pledging to respond through tariff and non-tariff means. The next day, the White House released a report from Peter Navarro, a top trade adviser to President Trump. The 65-page document detailed how China’s policies threatened U.S. economic and national security.

“While the United States has China’s attention, the last thing America’s manufacturing workers need is a trade war, or escalating tit-for-tat tariffs,” National Association of Manufacturers Vice President of International Affairs Linda Dempsey said. “Tariffs are raising costs to manufacture in the United States, decreasing exports, and forcing manufacturers to make the unenviable choice of incurring a substantial economic loss to foreign competitors or manufacturing overseas to remain competitive.”

Recently, President Trump instructed the USTR’s office to look into the possibility of raising the tariff rate on the $200 billion worth of Chinese imports to 25 percent. China’s retaliation was to hit $60 billion worth of U.S. exports, which would be nearly 90 percent of all U.S. goods that go to China.

Nevertheless, the war will likely go on. While the U.S. is threatening to impose further tariffs, Beijing is vowing to “fight to the end.”

Steel and Aluminum tariffs

Last month, the world saw a back-and-forth on a threatened 25 percent tariff on European automobiles by the U.S. The two parties decided to work towards finding a solution where zero tariffs are assessed.

This compromise came after a month of trade disagreements, tariff spikes, and new tariffs. In June, the U.S. imposed tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from the European Union. In response, the EU announced it would impose tariffs on $3.4 billion of imports from the U.S.

After meeting last week, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and President Trump agreed to resolve U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel as well as Europe’s retaliatory tariffs.

Ultimately, Trump decided to suspend his plans to impose tariffs on auto imports from Europe, a decision that will de-escalate trade tensions between the EU and the U.S. With trade wars heating up with other U.S. trading partners, the agreement could not be timelier. The compromise will allow the U.S. and our allies across the Atlantic a sigh of relief.

And then there’s NAFTA.

Although a year a go tensions were high, a compromise with our neighbors to the north and south is looking likelier. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer anticipates a trade deal between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico as early as the end of August.

Trump recently hinted at an agreement between the U.S. and Mexico, but Mexico and Canada responded with a desire to work trilaterally. Although the exact day is unclear, North America can expect a revised North American Free Trade Agreement soon.

“For manufacturers and workers throughout the United States, the North American commercial market is the most important market in the world. Canada and Mexico purchase one-fifth of all U.S. manufacturing production, more than our next 10 trading partners combined. These exports support more than two million manufacturing jobs at more than 43,000 manufacturing firms,” Dempsey said.

Though the outcomes of the ongoing trade discussions are not fully known, one thing Dempsey mentioned is certain: “Updating and modernizing the 25-year-old NAFTA, if done right, will help grow higher-paying American jobs, expand manufacturing in the United States and improve America’s global competitiveness.”

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In what might seem like an unlikely pairing, autonomous car development company Waymo announced last week its partnership with Phoenix public transportation provider Valley Metro. Together, the two have devised a mutually beneficial plan to increase ridership for both entities.

A persistent challenge for public transportation providers like Valley Metro is how to overcome riders’ commutes to and from transportation systems. The partnership with Waymo seeks to solve this problem by having self-driving cars bring riders from their residences and workplaces to public transportation systems.

“We don’t see ourselves as disrupting public transportation, but [working to] enable it and improve the reach and the access to it that citizens here in Phoenix deserve,” said Shaun Stewart, head of business development at Waymo. “That technology has allowed us to enable and focus on ways we can improve not only transportation point-to-point but accessing different public transportation infrastructure and services like the light rail.”

Public transportation in Arizona hosts 250,000 people a day. ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������With more than 200 people moving here every day, Arizona can expect another million residents in the Valley in the next 15 years, many of whom will not own cars. Greater access to public transportation is an important part of supporting Arizona’s population growth, and the solution could be right around the corner.

By the end of the year, Waymo expects to unveil the world’s first fully self-driving vehicle in the Valley. The development of Waymo’s automated technology has been an extensive process with an emphasis on safety.

It began in 2009 as Google’s self-driving car project with the mission to, “make our roads safer, free up people’s time, and improve mobility for everyone.” Now its own entity and still in the Google family, last year, Waymo launched its early rider program in Phoenix to 400 volunteer residents. Since 2009, Waymo’s automated cars have driven more than 8 million miles, including 2.7 billion miles in simulation in 2017 alone.

Waymo’s self-driving cars are working to become the world’s “most experienced driver,” according to Stewart. The vehicles have the most advanced sensors and software to detect pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, road work, and more with its 360 degree “vision” that can see objects as far as three football fields away.

“It’s safe, reliable, and it’s going to be the difference in this whole Valley,” commented Phoenix Mayor Thelma Williams.

This year, Waymo is in the process of building 20,000 self-driving Jaguar I – PACEs that will be able to drive a million trips in a typical day. Very soon, we can expect Waymo’s technology to provide Arizona residents efficiency, convenience, and greater access to the Valley.

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