| This dissertation examines the intergovernmental policy process of planning and financing regional airports. It utilizes a case-study design by investigating the process of formulating regional airport policy in Arizona. The study approaches airport policy by borrowing the ideas and models of three scholars: Theodore Lowi, John Kingdon, and Deil Wright.; The study focuses on the roles of several actors and institutions--elected and appointed officials, airport planners, consultants, private interest groups (particularly real estate interests), the media, and academics-researchers--in their ability to influence the airport development policy process. Specifically, the study is concerned with two phases of the policy process: agenda setting and alternative specification.; Multiple strategies of data collection were employed, including archival analysis, direct observation, key informant interviews, and a mail survey. Such a flexible approach was necessary because of the lack of an a priori guiding substantive theory and operational model. This approach proved to be worthwhile in that it was possible to obtain as much data from as many sources as possible.; The primary objective of this study was to add to the existing body of knowledge of the roles of various key actors and institutions in agenda setting and alternative specification. In addition, a second objective was to assist policymakers in Arizona in determining the proper approach to the important problem of planning for the region's current and future airport capacity needs and thus avoid a "great planning disaster," of which there have been many where transportation infrastructure projects are concerned. |
