Could Pinal County become its own MSA?

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

I think it is possible that Pinal County may be designated as its own MSA, although MAG might be opposed to it since it would give the false impression of a population loss for the Phoenix metro area, since the MSA would only include Maricopa County if Pinal County becomes its own MSA, and it may also affect cities in Pinal County that are members of MAG (Apache Junction, Maricopa, and Florence). I would think they would prefer to keep Pinal County as part of the Phoenix MSA.

But what would comprise such an MSA, Pinal County isn't cohesive like Pima or Maricopa are. Pinal feeds off other counties instead. Even the trade center in Casa Grande is named Phoenix Mart.

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

But what would comprise such an MSA, Pinal County isn't cohesive like Pima or Maricopa are. Pinal feeds off other counties instead. Even the trade center in Casa Grande is named Phoenix Mart.

Well, one of the rationales for Pinal County to become its own MSA is that Casa Grande chose to form its own MPO (which Eloy and Coolidge are also members of) instead of joining MAG. As far as I know, cities are discouraged from forming their own MPO when they are within the same MSA as another city.

[observer53]

Somehow I'm not surprised that Casa Grande chose not to join the Maricopa Association of Governments. While certainly many of their residents work in Maricopa County, they have been trying to establish themselves as a separate and growing place for quite awhile now. I don't know (and frankly, don't much care) who would have been "discouraging" them from doing what they did, but so long as they weren't somehow prevented from doing what they did, I don't see what the big deal is, and you aren't telling us.