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Yes, if your property sits near one of the listed Arizona corridors and you can partner with a developer before 2 p.m. on January 15, 2027. That is when proposals are due for the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) new round of 49 federally funded fast-charging stations. Federal funds cover up to 80% of eligible costs, and the developer pays at least 20%.
What ADOT announced in October 2026
On October 14, 2026, ADOT said Arizona's first three stations funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program are open. They are in Tucson, Green Valley and Wellton.
- Tucson: I-10 near Kino Parkway, at a barbecue restaurant and store.
- Green Valley: I-19, at a retail center.
- Wellton: I-8, at a gas station.
Two more stations are due later on I-40, in Seligman and Holbrook. ADOT says 11 more projects are under construction or in design. It expects contracts for 14 more by late 2026.
ADOT manages $76.5 million in NEVI funds. That money can support as many as 79 stations statewide. The new round covers 49 sites with an estimated $49 million in federal funding. That works out to about $1 million in federal money per site, before the developer's share.
Why this round took so long
The program has had a rough path. In February 2025, the federal government suspended approved state NEVI plans and blocked new funding commitments. Arizona joined the states that sued. In January 2026, a federal court ruled the funds had been unlawfully withheld, according to Electrek.
Court records cited by Electrek show Arizona canceled a solicitation for 35 locations after losing access to about $48.1 million in uncommitted funds. The 49-site round is the restart. For owners, the lesson is simple: build schedule risk into any deal, and keep the lease terms flexible on start dates.
Which corridors are in the 49-site round
The round includes 31 new locations. It also re-offers 18 locations that went unawarded in the first two phases.
The corridors listed by ADOT:
- Interstates: I-10, I-40 and I-40 Business.
- US routes: 60, 66, 70, 89A, 93, 180 and 191.
- State routes: 64, 68, 69, 77, 79, 80, 85, 87, 89, 89A, 90, 95, 179, 260, 264, 347 and 389.
Stations will generally sit no more than 90 miles apart. Each must be within three miles of the highway. That three-mile band is wider than many owners expect. A lot behind a strip center or a hotel near an exit can qualify.
ADOT spokesperson Garin Groff told KJZZ that most stations will be "at places like gas stations where people are already stopping." Convenience stores, travel centers, restaurants, hotels and retail centers fit that pattern.
What the site has to support
NEVI stations follow federal minimum standards in 23 CFR Part 680. The key ones for a site host:
- Four ports minimum. Stations on designated corridors need at least four networked DC fast-charging ports.
- 150 kW per port. Each port must be able to deliver up to 150 kW at the same time as the others. That means a service sized for at least 600 kW of charging load.
- 24/7 access. Corridor stations must be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- 97% uptime. Each port must average more than 97% uptime over a year.
- Five years of operation. Chargers must be kept in compliance for at least five years.
- Qualified electricians. Installers need Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) certification or a registered apprenticeship background.
ADOT says most Arizona stations will offer both NACS (Tesla-style) and CCS plugs. Chargers are designed to charge a typical EV in 30 minutes or less.
How the money and ownership work
The structure matters more than the headline dollars.
- The developer applies, not the landowner alone. ADOT funds private developers. Stations are privately owned and operated.
- Federal funds cover up to 80%. The developer covers at least 20% of eligible costs. No state money is used.
- The site host signs a deal with the developer. That is usually a lease, license or revenue-share agreement.
- Timeline is long. ADOT expects construction to start and take about a year.
Federal guidance changed in August 2025. The Federal Highway Administration issued interim final guidance that gave states more flexibility on station spacing. It also encouraged sites where the station owner is the site host. That makes an owner-developer model worth a look if you have capital and an operating partner.
Five questions to answer before January 15
- Is the parcel inside three miles of a listed corridor? Check how the solicitation measures distance before you commit.
- Can the utility deliver 600 kW or more? Ask your utility early for a load letter. Transformer and service upgrades often set the schedule.
- Where do the stalls go? Four or more stalls need room for pull-in, pull-through or trailer access. They also need lighting, signage and an ADA-accessible path.
- Can the site stay open around the clock? The rule requires 24/7 access on corridors. Restrooms and lighting help drivers who stop at night.
- Who will hold the five-year obligation? Settle uptime, repairs and data reporting in writing. A port that drops below 97% uptime is a compliance problem.
Common mistakes site hosts make
- Signing a lease before checking power. A site that needs a long utility upgrade can miss the build window.
- Picking stalls in the snow-storage zone. In northern Arizona, plows and charger pads compete for the same corners of a lot.
- Ignoring circulation. ADOT expects a typical charge to take 30 minutes or less. Parked charging cars should not block fuel lanes, drive-thrus or truck routes.
- Skipping the parking rules. Without signage and enforcement, gas-powered cars park in charging stalls and uptime turns into lost sessions.
- Leaving the revenue split vague. Spell out who gets charging revenue, who pays demand charges and who owns the equipment at year five.
How Wins Parking handles this work
Wins Parking is a family-owned, Rocky Mountain–based company that has worked in the Vail Valley since 2016. We serve owners across the country with design, build and manage teams.
For EV charging projects, we:
- Design the lot layout, stall count, ADA path, lighting, signage and traffic flow around the chargers.
- Build through Wins Design & Build, our construction division. That covers trenching, conduit, paving, striping, drainage and snow planning around the equipment.
- Manage the parking after launch. That includes permits, enforcement, LPR cameras and rules that keep charging stalls open for EVs.
We also help owners compare host options. That means a ground lease with a developer, a revenue share, or an owner-developer model. See our EV charging and parking management guide, our DC fast charging guide for parking lots and our electrical upgrade guide. Past work is on our case studies page.
Next step
The deadline is 2 p.m. on January 15, 2027. Utility letters and developer agreements take weeks. Start now.
Call (970) 279-1744 or start at https://winsparking.com/contact.
Frequently asked questions
Can a landowner apply for Arizona NEVI funding directly?
ADOT awards NEVI funds to private developers who build, own and operate the stations. A landowner usually takes part as a site host through a lease or revenue-share deal with a developer, or by acting as the developer with an operating partner.
When are proposals due for Arizona's 49-site NEVI round?
ADOT says proposals are due by 2 p.m. on January 15, 2027. Construction is expected to begin and take about one year.
How much power does a NEVI fast-charging station need?
Corridor stations need at least four DC fast-charging ports that can each deliver up to 150 kW at the same time, so the site should support at least 600 kW of charging load. Ask your utility for a load letter early.
Does a NEVI station have to be open all night?
Yes. Under 23 CFR 680, stations along designated alternative fuel corridors must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Which plugs will Arizona's NEVI chargers use?
ADOT says most stations will offer both NACS (Tesla-style) and CCS plugs, which fit most but not all EVs.