Even in the best of economic times, it is tough to find funding for transportation projects that help local communities and neighborhoods enhance their transportation facilities. 

Limited transportation dollars coupled with a weakening economy, rising material costs and growing needs make it tough for the region’s cities and towns, including Pima County, to meet even some basic transportation needs and nearly impossible to fund projects that are neighborhood/community enhancements. 

The Transportation Enhancement Grant Program is funded with federal transportation dollars and is administered by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to enhance surface transportation activities by developing projects that go above and beyond what transportation departments typically do.

“Two things to remember about the TE funds are that it is not a “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark where lawmakers are funding their pet projects. Projects are funded only after going through a competitive process. TE funds are awarded by formula to each state and the funding is restricted to 11 different categories, so these are the only types of projects you can implement with these funds,” said John Liosatos, the TE coordinator for PAG. In Arizona, the Transportation Enhancement program has a competitive application process by which the available funding is programmed. ADOT partners with the regional transportation planning organizations from around the state, and each area has its own application process. In Pima County, the TE application process is administered by PAG. This is the 16th year of the program.

This year ADOT funded 13 local projects totaling a little under $6 million st

• Centennial Elementary/Flowing Wells Jr. High School Safe Routes to School project, sponsored by Pima County, received $500,000 in funding to construct 5-foot sidewalks to the schools from surrounding neighborhoods. 
• Pima Pedestrian Path (Midtown Neighborhood), sponsored by the City of Tucson, received $433,450 in funding to construct a pedestrian pathway along 0.5 mile of the north side of Pima Street between Columbus Boulevard and Alvernon Way. 
• Ajo Train Depot Rehabilitation project, sponsored by Pima County, received $500,000 in funding for the rehabilitation of the Ajo Train Depot in Ajo.

Plans for the Pima Street pedestrian pathway began in 2007 with a Planning and Design Grant from ProNeighborhoods, including a March 2007 household questionnaire seeking input on priorities for improvements. The path is intended to increase accessibility and shelter pedestrians from traffic, as well as mitigate flooding and crime in the area. 

“Most students who attend Wright Elementary School walk from home, so this safe pedestrian path will mean the world in terms of safety for our children,” said Nina Trasoff, Tucson Councilmember Ward VI. “Neighborhood residents and other community volunteers put in untold hours planning this project. They deserve so much credit for the success of this project.”

Garden District Neighborhood Association President Ida Plotkin said, “This pathway will not only serve to enhance the safety and beauty of the area but will also add to the vibrancy and vitality of our neighborhood.”

The Ajo Depot application was co-sponsored by Pima County and the International Sonoran Desert Alliance (IDSA). “We are delighted with this decision,” said Jim Reiman, ISDA board president. “In addition to what it means to our community in terms of the work we are doing with the Plaza, this will enhance Ajo’s attraction to tourists and entice more visitors to spend time in the community.”

Current planning calls for the depot to house offices for the Ajo Chamber of Commerce, state tourism and ISDA’s business-development services. Discussions are under way with Project PPEP for the eventual relocation of its facility currently at the site.

For more information, including contact information for any of the project applicants or jurisdictional staff, please contact John Liosatos, Pima Association of Governments, at 792-1093.

Steve Huffman,  who served in the Arizona House of Representatives for eight years, recently was hired as the Town’s Intergovernmental Affairs Administrator. Huffman replaces Steve Romero, who left in October for a job with the U.S. Department of Justice. Huffman started with the Town on Dec. 1.

He was a state legislator from 1999 to 2007. Huffman chaired the House Ways and Means Committee from 2003 to 2007 and the House Environment Committee from 2001 to 2003.

“Steve’s extensive knowledge of state and local government will be an important asset to the Town,” said Town Manager Gilbert Davidson. “He was a strong advocate for Marana during his time in the Legislature and we are excited to have him on our team.”

Huffman worked with Jim Kolbe on his Congressional campaign in 1992 and 1994. He also has worked for Long Realty, Realty Executives, First Magnus and American Home Mortgage.

Huffman graduated from The University of Arizona in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is marking milestones as the work on the Interstate 10 widening project from Prince Road to 29th Street approaches its conclusion. The project is approximately 75 percent completed and ahead of schedule with a completion date of December 2009. Ramps will be opened at that time; landscaping work will continue – with no impact to traffic – through spring 2010. Because it is unsafe for traffic to merge on and off due to the current limited space configuration (two lanes in each direction on the interstate), ramps that are already constructed remain closed until the completion of the project.

MILESTONES:

• Bridges south of St. Mary’s Road on the east side of I-10 and bridges north of St. Mary’s on the west side of I-10 are completed; traffic is traveling on new concrete pavement. 

• The 2009 Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase was the last one to be impacted by the construction.

• The last girders were set on March 6, and all 317 girders are now in place.

• The last bridge deck concrete pour is scheduled to occur on March 31.

• All of the retaining walls are scheduled to be completed by early April.

Sahuarita Mayor Lynne Skelton will serve as the 2009 Chair of the Pima Association of Governments’ Regional Council.

Other 2009 Regional Council officers include: Vice Chair, Tohono O’odham Chair Ned Norris Jr., and Treasurer, South Tucson Mayor Jennifer Eckstrom. 

Regional Council members include: Oro Valley Mayor Paul Loomis, Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup, Pascua Yaqui Vice Chairman Robert Valencia, Marana Mayor Ed Honea, Pima County Supervisor Ramon Valadez and Arizona State Transportation Board member Si Schorr