Pima County voters will likely have their say on a $2.67 billion, 20-year regional transportation plan in an expected March election.
The Regional Transportation Authority Board on Monday approved forwarding the RTA Next plan to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, who are expected to call for the election at its Sept. 2 meeting. An election would be held on March 10.
The RTA Board wants voters to approve the 20-year plan and a continuation of the half-cent sales tax passed by voters in 2006.
Currently, the sales tax rate across Pima County is 8.7% — 0.5% of which funds the original RTA plan that voters passed in 2006. If the RTA Next plan is approved, it wouldn’t change the tax rate because the RTA plan calls for a continuation of the half-cent sales tax.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said this is a plan that Tucsonans deserve.
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“After six years of hard work, we now have a clear path forward,†she said in a Facebook . “It fulfills what Mayor and Council requested and a fair return of investment for Tucson residents and tax-payers.â€
Pima County voters will likely decide in March whether to extend an existing 1/2-cent sales tax to pay for a $2.67 billion, 20-year regional transportation plan.
The latest version of the 20-year transportation plan includes about $1.42 billion in roadway projects and nearly $178 million in arterial rehabilitation for roadways in poor condition.
There’s $254.6 million included for safety and ADA projects and $726 million for regional transit.
Included is $257.6 million to complete seven remaining roadway projects that were included in the original RTA plan that voters passed in 2006, now called RTA 1, that were pushed back or delayed because of funding shortfalls.
Monday’s decision follows a proposal by RTA Executive Director Michael Ortega to ask voters to approve — alongside the 20-year plan — a 10-year sales tax extension instead of the normal 20 years.
Ultimately, the RTA Board opted for the traditional 20-year tax to fund the plan after pushback from NextNow, a coalition of local businesses and organizations.
In a statement, the group said Monday’s action “represented one of the very last hurdles to ensure voters have a chance to pass RTA Next in March and ensure the RTA funding mechanism does not lapse,†Ian McDowell, vice president and regional director for Sundt Construction’s Tucson location, said in the statement. “We truly are grateful for the RTA Board’s work.â€
“(Monday’s) vote represented the culmination of over six years of work and outreach by the RTA Board and staff. Countless public meetings, town halls, and listening sessions have helped the RTA Board shape a plan that will represent and benefit all of Pima County,†he said in a statement.
