Voters in Pima County approved both Proposition 418 and Proposition 419, which initiated the 20-year RTA Next regional transportation plan.
The plan will result in $2.67B in capital funding for transportation-related projects and programs. The approval of Prop 419 will ultimately extend the current half-cent sales tax that was initially approved in 2006. That sales tax was scheduled to expire this year.
The original RTA plan still has seven uncompleted projects – each of which will be prioritized in the newly approved plan. These projects include:
- Silverbell Road from Camino del Cerro to Ina Road,
- First Avenue from Orange Grove Road to Ina Road,
- First Avenue from Grant Road to River Road,
- 22nd Street from Interstate 10 to Kino Pkwy.,
- Houghton Road from Broadway to Tanque Verde Road,
- Tangerine Road from Marana Tech Park Drive to Dove Mountain Blvd. and
- Grant Road widening project from Fremont Avenue to Sparkman Blvd.
Current projections indicate the next 20 years will see $1.4B go toward roadway projects throughout Pima County. Roughly $178M will be used for arterial rehabilitation projects, most of which will be in Tucson. Another $254.6M will be used for safety and ADA projects.
The regional public transportation system, which is mostly in Tucson, will receive $726M over the lifespan of RTA Next. This will help maintain the systems so they can continue to serve the populace. (Source)