4 June 16 - July 6, 2007
Community
www.SanTanSun.com
Casino traffi c study complete
USPS delivers ZIP
Senator says new location likely code change
by Natalie Morris
More than 14,000 Southern Chandler residents and
The highly anticipated Gilbert/Hunt Casino Traffi c
businesses will experience a change of address July 1
Impact Study is now fi nished and was made public
when the United States Postal Service (USPS) adds a
earlier this month. Recommendations for a wider Hunt
new fi ve-digit ZIP code south of Pecos Road.
Highway and additional traffi c signals are among its
Approximately 8,500 addresses in the current 85248
key fi ndings, as are estimates that nearly 65, 000 vehicles
ZIP code area and approximately 5,600 addresses in
will visit the casino weekly.
the current 85249 ZIP code area have been reassigned
Prepared by Task Engineering of Phoenix for the Gila
the new 85286 ZIP code. A USPS notice recently mailed
River Indian Community’s Casino Expansion Owners
to the affected addresses cites Southern Chandler’s
Team, the report looks at the potential traffi c impact of
ever-increasing population as the impetus for the
developing a casino at Gilbert Road and Hunt Highway
in Southern Chandler.
STSN photo by Gordon Murray
change.
The City of Chandler received a draft of the report,
IMPACT: Farm equipment drivers and other motorists would
See ZIP code Page 5
be impacted by the nearly 65,000 vehicles weekly which are
and offi cials say staff are reviewing the study and will
anticipated to head to the GRIC casino planned near Gilbert Road
respond to the Community by letter.
and Hunt Highway, according to a study done by Task Engineering
According to the study, the casino would generate
of Phoenix.
approximately 8, 450 calculated trip ends on weekdays Hunt Highway ultimately will change.
and 11, 050 trip ends each weekend day. The study “I remain really optimistic that we have the
recommends adding traffi c signals at Hunt Highway opportunity to get this moved to the site I suggested,
and Gilbert Road in 2010 due to casino traffi c and also which is I-10 and the Casa Grande exit. It’s my opinion
recommends widening Hunt Highway to four lanes that they’re going to make a recommendation to move
between Gilbert Road and Arizona Avenue by 2020. the site.”
In previous reports, Mayor Boyd Dunn indicated Tibshraeny feels the Community will make this
that the City has no plans to expand Hunt Highway. decision for three reasons: transportation issues,
“We appreciated receiving a copy of the study from especially on Hunt Highway; opposition from local
the Community and will discuss with them any issues residents within the GRIC and in Southern Chandler;
or concerns once our review is complete, ” states and disagreement among GRIC’s leadership about the
Jim Phipps, public information offi cer for the City of location. Tibshraeny’s sources indicated the tribe’s
Chandler. Governor, in particular, would like to build the casino
at a different site.
A new site proposed
Based on recent discussions with leaders from the Gila
Natalie Morris is a freelance writer and lives with her husband
River Indian Community, State Senator Jay Tibshraeny
and their two sons in Cooper Commons. She can be reached at
Natalie@SanTanSun.com.
says he “is getting good feedback and indications” that
NEW ZIP: Residents and businesses in S. Chandler will have up to
the proposed location of a casino at Gilbert Road and
a year to revise their new ZIP codes on business cards, letterhead
and other materials.
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