RTA sees ‘unprecedented’ tax collections during pandemic year
The Regional Transportation Authority’s 20-year transportation plan is partially funded by a transaction privilege tax, or sales tax, so when the pandemic hit and businesses shuttered, low revenue was almost a given. That is, until businesses started to reopen and tax collections began to climb in surprising ways. “We had … Read more »
RTA status report – September 2021
RTA Project Status – Through July 31 Projects in design 57 Under construction/implementation 50 Total number completed 899 RTA Financial Status – Through July 31 Funds expended to date $1.4B The current RTA status report shows 899 projects have been completed. Of those, 17 major roadway corridor construction projects have … Read more »
RTA funding: a primer
The primary funding source for Regional Transportation Authority plan projects is from the RTA’s voter-approved half-cent (excise) sales tax. The RTA tax is levied on taxable goods and services throughout Pima County to pay for the projects in the 20-year regional transportation plan. Both the plan and tax were approved … Read more »
Houghton Road project update – September 2021
The 13-mile Houghton Road widening project is divided into several segments between East Tanque Verde Road and Interstate 10. The project underway now will widen South Houghton Road to six lanes from East Mary Ann Cleveland Way to East Valencia Road, with multi-use improvements throughout the two-mile project. The City … Read more »
News Release: Seeking applications for Citizens Advisory Committee members to draft RTA plan
The Regional Transportation Authority is now accepting applications to fill vacancies on its Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The committee is designated by the RTA Board to draft the next regional transportation plan for public input. The RTA currently manages its 20-year regional transportation plan, which Pima County voters approved in … Read more »
Ruthrauff/I-10 interchange project update – September 2021
Seeing, or being in, a line of cars stacked up behind barriers waiting for a long train to cross the street can be a source of frustration, delay and safety concerns, all of which are why the Arizona Department of Transportation is building a bridge for Ruthrauff Road traffic to … Read more »
Downtown Links project update – August 2021
Downtown Links is one of 35 roadway corridor projects funded in the Regional Transportation Authority’s 20-year regional transportation plan approved by voters in 2006. The project is managed by the City of Tucson and involves building a new road to extend Barraza-Aviation Parkway from its current terminus, at Broadway east … Read more »
Apply now! Citizens’ committee seeks members
Pima Association of Governments (PAG) and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) seek applicants for a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to provide public input for the development of the next RTA regional transportation plan. The RTA’s transportation planning efforts aim to identify priority regional transportation needs for the long term to … Read more »
What can the RTA sales tax pay for?
The Regional Transportation Authority’s 20-year plan is a map for improving roads, transit and mobility for economic vitality in the Tucson region. It has raised hundreds of millions of dollars through a half-cent excise (sales) tax, and the money is carefully managed to ensure it’s only spent on eligible transportation … Read more »
Sun Shuttle serves thousands of people each month
Coming out of a year of unprecedented disruption due to the pandemic, Sun Shuttle is experiencing an increase in passengers, though it’s still not quite up to pre-pandemic rider numbers. What is Sun Shuttle? Sun Shuttle was created to connect residents in some of the outlying segments of the region … Read more »