Fall is one of the best times of the year to safely get out of your home and explore the region’s bike paths and trails. The Regional Transportation Authority has helped fund more than 300 miles of new bike lanes and paths since voters approved the RTA regional transportation plan in 2006. And there are 250 miles more to go.
What you may not know is the RTA’s contribution to The Chuck Huckelberry Loop, recently named one of the 15 most scenic bike trails in America by Fodor’s Travel website.
The RTA is a partnership among the jurisdictions in the region including the cities of South Tucson, Tucson, the town of Oro Valley, Marana and Sahuarita, the Tohono O’odham Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Pima County and the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Developed by Pima County, the 130-mile long paved Loop runs through several jurisdictions that have worked in partnership to create access to the pathway from their communities. RTA funds have been used to provide safe road crossing such as underpasses and signalized high-intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) crossings as well as to acquire right of way. The RTA has provided funding for bicycle boulevards which are instrumental in getting people to The Loop. RTA Transportation Program Safety Coordinator Gabriel Thum says these are great investments for our region. “People don’t have to drive, take off their bike and get on The Loop. They can bike to The Loop.”