Smooth. It’s a word we dream of as we travel down bumpy roads and dodge canyon-like potholes in Pima County.
As a bicycle commuter and advocate for transportation infrastructure, I’m one of the 40 percent of “Yes” voters still shocked by Tuesday’s bond election, which would have invested more than $250 million in roads, sidewalks and bike paths, including critical safety linkages between parks and schools.
When it comes to roads, transit and bicycle and pedestrian improvements, we need to work more closely with the Pima Association of Governments/Regional Transportation Authority. I participated in their Citizens Transportation Academy and encourage you to do the same the next time it is offered.
Arizona’s 18-cent per gallon gas tax, the traditional way to fund transportation improvements, was first imposed when gas cost 77 cents a gallon. The Legislature had the vision to raise the gas tax nine times between 1960 and 1991, but has failed to increase it since.
Although the pace of growth has changed, we still will experience growth. The average growth rate between 2013 and 2030 for the region is 1.3 percent, or more than 240,000 additional people.
Statewide, we are expected to grow approximately 81 percent to 11.6 million by 2050, according to the Arizona Department of Administration population projections.
The 2006 voter-approved Regional Transportation Authority’s half-cent sales tax was the first successful step toward battling the billion-dollar backlog in infrastructure. This $2.1 billion, 20-year plan funds roadway, transit, safety, and environmental and economic vitality improvements, including bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Voters approved an additional $100 million for City of Tucson streets in 2012. Find out more at www.tucsonaz.gov/street-bonds.
The region’s bicycle network consists of over 1,000 miles of bicycle lanes, routes, shared-use paths/trails and bicycle boulevards mostly funded by regional funds. We’ve come a long way since 8 miles of bike lanes in 1971.
The Tucson/Eastern Pima County region also has a gold-level, bicycle friendly community designation from the League of American Bicyclists, but it could go to Platinum once all the RTA projects are completed.
More than 700 RTA transportation improvements have been completed to date, with information available on their website at www.rtamobility.com. It includes 235 miles of bike lanes, 136 miles of sidewalks, 161 intersection improvements and 48 pedestrian safety crossings. The RTA improvements will continue through 2026, but it’s not enough to meet our region’s transportation needs.
In order to meet present and future demands, we need to reauthorize the RTA and continue to prioritize regional needs to be considered for the plan. Transportation is an investment in our community, our region. New projects add to our quality life by reducing congestion and drive time, offering more travel choices and providing added safety. Businesses depend on a quality transportation network and look to expand in communities that offer safer, faster routes.
We live in the Grand Canyon state, but that doesn’t mean we want canyons in our streets. Let’s continue to be strategic in how and where we spend our transportation dollars, but let’s also take action to support new revenue sources.
