Voters greenlight $2.1 billion road plan
By Andrea Kelly and Erica Meltzer
Voters ushered in a "new era" in transportation in Pima County Tuesday by approving the Regional Transportation Plan and half-cent sales tax. With about 75% of the precincts reporting last night, the transportation plan was ahead 60% to 40%, and the sales tax to fund the plan was ahead 58% to 42%.
"Fifth time's a charm," noted County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, in reference to four previous unsuccessful transportation and sales tax elections.
"This is so thrilling, it's just a totally new day for Tucson," Steve Farley, a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee that helped draft the RTA plan, said after preliminary results were announced. The passage of the transportation plan means the community is ready to work together to solve problems, he said.
"We can start to show the rest of the country we're growing up," Farley said. He said the transportation issues go hand-in-hand with the psychiatric bonds that voters also approved Tuesday.
He and others were "ecstatic" when they found out the transportation plan and sales tax passed. Many said they believe the election signifies the community is ready to work together on other issues too, such as water needs and economic development.
"This is a wonderful step to go build on," said Rick Myers, chairman of the Yes!! for Regional Transportation committee, which supported the plan. "A vote like this shows that people are thinking of what they want tomorrow," Myers said.
Opponents gathered at Bobo's Restaurant, 2938 E. Grant Road, to await the news. The mood there deflated after the first round of results was announced. By 8:30 p.m., with almost 70% of the votes counted, the Enough! committee against the plan and tax acknowledged defeat.
Supporters of the transportation plan and half-cent sales tax raised almost $1 million to reach out to voters with commercials, fliers, mailings and roadside signs. The Yes!! for Regional Transportation committee was backed by individuals and big businesses and many in the construction, real estate, car sales and materials industries.
The Enough! committee against the plan, brought in less than $8,000 in its campaign. Much of that money was donated by individuals and was used for roadside signs and fliers.
The sales tax will go up by half a cent on the dollar across Pima County on July 1 to pay for the road and transit projects in the plan. More buses will hit the streets of Tucson as early as August, said Jim Glock, director of the Tucson Department of Transportation. The first will be used to ease overcrowding on busy routes he said. After that, the funding will be used for expanded weekend and evening service.
Construction on roads and other projects will begin in five-year phases. The first phase starts July 1 of this year, although major construction isn't expected until 2008. The second phase will begin July 2011, the third July 2016 and the final phase will start July 2021. Some projects, like intersection improvements, will be ongoing through all phases, while others, including most of the road projects, will be contained to one or two phases.
The plan calls for 35 road projects, some involving widening current roads, others for new roads or projects to improve existing roads.
The sales tax is expected to raise about $2.1 billion during the next 20 years. Some projects have additional funding from local jurisdictions; others, like the Downtown-area streetcar line, will depend on federal funding to cover the expense.
Which projects would get priority
- Camino de Mañana from Tangerine Road to Linda Vista Boulevard; new two- and four-lane road with bike lanes and drainage: $6.1 million.
- Twin Peaks Road from Silverbell Road to I-10, including the I-10 traffic interchange, bridge over the Santa Cruz River, new four-lane road connecting to I-10: $30.7 million .
- Magee-Cortaro Farms from La Cholla Boulevard to Thornydale Road; four-lane road with median, eliminate the jog at La Cholla, add bike lanes and sidewalks: $29.5 million .
- La Cholla Boulevard from River Road to Ruthrauff Road; widen to six lanes, add bridge at Rillito River, bike lanes and sidewalks: $14.7 million .
- La Cañada Drive from Calle Concordia to River Road; widen to four lanes, add equestrian trail, drainage and multiuse lanes: $27.6 million .
- Kolb Road connection with Sabino Canyon; new four-lane roadway connecting Sabino Canyon with Kolb, add bike lanes and sidewalks: $9.1 million .
- Tanque Verde Road from Catalina Highway to Houghton Road; widen to four lanes, add bike lanes and sidewalks: $12.8 million.
- Speedway from Camino Seco to Houghton; widen to four lanes, add bike lanes and sidewalks: $14.1 million .
- Houghton from Interstate 10 to Tanque Verde Road; widen to four and six lanes, new bridges, bike lanes and sidewalks: $95.3 million .
- Sahuarita Road, Interstate 19 to Country Club Road; widen to four lanes with median, add bike lanes and sidewalks: $30.78 million .
- I-19 frontage road from Continental Ranch to Canoa Road; new two-lane road: $3.9 million.
- All of the expanded bus service, including expanded weeknight and evening hours, frequency of buses, park and rides, and the streetcar.
- Intersection improvements, bus pullouts, rail crossings, wildlife linkages, bike paths and lanes, and sidewalks are scheduled to be ongoing throughout the 20-year plan.