By Pima County
The U.S. Department of Transportation on June 22 announced Pima County will receive $20M from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Act to add travel lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes, and other transit enhancements to a 1.3-mile segment of West Valencia Road.
Once completed, Valencia between Mission Road and Camino de la Tierra will have increased lanes, better traffic flow, improved bike lanes, and better public transportation access and amenities.
It also will improve the connection between metro Tucson and communities including the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O’odham Nation San Xavier District, as well as newly developed residential areas of unincorporated Pima County.
This project will add sidewalks where none currently exist, lighting throughout the entirety of the project limits, increase the number of travel lanes, add protected bicycle lanes, and upgrade public transit stops with bus pullouts, benches, and shelters. These improvements will turn this section of West Valencia Road into a “Complete Street” with a focus on robust active transportation infrastructure.
West Valencia Road is the primary connection to the City of Tucson for both the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O’odham Nation San Xavier District. The area is primarily a commercial sector with grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, and food service making up most of the businesses, but has very little walkable infrastructure. The addition of sidewalks throughout the project area and lighting to provide safe non-vehicular access to these businesses will vastly improve the quality of life for the surrounding residential areas.
Additionally, most of the public transit infrastructure in the area needs critical repairs or upgrades. Bus stops in the project area are mostly unsheltered and are not ADA-compliant. Updated bus stops, including bus pullouts, benches, and shelters plus protected bike lanes will encourage use of public transit. (Source)
