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Transportation continues to be one of Council’s top priorities. Based on resident feedback and the maturation of the Town’s transportation network, the Town of Queen Creek is implementing a strategic reorganization that establishes a dedicated Transportation Department while maintaining a separate Public Works Department.
“As a young, growing community, we have seen our transportation network literally transform over the past 20 years,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “We’ve invested more than $200 million in transportation improvements in the last 10 years alone, primarily through building and widening roadways. This strategic organizational alignment will allow our transportation team to listen, evaluate and implement changes that will continue to improve transportation in our community, which we know is incredibly important to our residents.”
Some notable projects completed over the past several years from the 2016 Transportation Master Plan include:
Widening Ellsworth Road to three lanes in each direction all through Queen Creek
Extending and widening Ocotillo Road, making it the first east-west connector
Widening Rittenhouse Road to two lanes in each direction all through Queen Creek
Extending and widening Riggs Road, making it the second east-west connector and a roadway of regional significance
Extending Crimson Road and Signal Butte Road to the northern Mesa boundary (with Signal Butte connecting to the State Route 24)
Extending and widening Meridian Road, providing a connector from the SR24 to Combs Road
In November 2025, the Queen Creek Town Council approved the 2025 Transportation Master Plan (TMP), a 25-year roadmap for planning, building, and managing the Town’s transportation network. The strategic reorganization aligns with the Town’s Fiscal Year 2026/27 budget, which includes $71.1 million for 31 transportation projects.
“Every trip in Queen Creek matters,” said Transportation Director Mohamed Youssef. “The dedicated Transportation Department puts our residents at the heart of every transportation decision we make. Every road we build, every signal we optimize, and every safety improvement we implement has one purpose: to create a safer, smarter and more reliable transportation system that keeps pace with our growth while putting the people we serve first.”
The Town is in the midst of developing its Transportation Safety Action Plan, combining data and input to focus on reducing crashes with serious injuries and fatalities. The Town is also updating its General Plan, a 10-year guiding document that will include a circulation element. Both plans provide opportunities for public input:
General Plan Update
Transportation Safety Action Plan
The Town now has more than 900 lane miles and over 90 traffic signals. The Transportation Department will be responsible for overseeing traffic engineering, pavement preservation and streets. The Public Works Department will retain fleet, facilities and environmental services. No new staff were added as a result of the strategic realignment. Kenny Stimson, Public Works Deputy Director, will serve as the interim Public Works Director.
For information on Town Capital Infrastructure Projects, visit www.QueenCreekAZ.gov/CIP
For information on the Public Works Department, visit www.QueenCreekAZ.gov/PublicWorks
For information on the Transportation Department, visit www.QueenCreekAZ.gov/Transportation.
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