1st major roadway project gets under way as RTA marks 3rd anniversary of plan approval

One of the Regional Transportation Authority’s major roadway projects started construction just as the RTA celebrated its third anniversary. Pima County voters approved the RTA plan and supporting excise tax on May 16, 2006.

On May 11, the RTA joined the Town of Marana, the Arizona Department of Transportation and other regional officials at the groundbreaking of the $50.5 million Twin Peaks interchange. The RTA is contributing $30.8 million toward that project. Another project on Camino de Manana and managed by the Town of Marana is out to bid. The RTA plan includes 35 major roadway projects.

During its first three years, the RTA has collected $188 million in excise tax collections and has committed $386 million toward 259 projects that have been approved by the RTA Board.

RTA improvements have been implemented across the region and in all of the elements of the RTA plan, which include roadway, safety, transit, and environmental and economic vitality improvements.

During the past year, the RTA took steps to confirm the 3-2 outcome of the 2006 election, which the State Attorney General validated last month. The recount was conducted after an investigation by the Attorney General based on local political parties and individual allegations that the computerized election data had been manipulated.

Among the highlights through May 2009

• The RTA’s announcement early this year of moving toward a regional seamless transit system, most recently including the introduction of neighborhood transit circulator service known as the Sun Shuttle in the communities of Marana, Oro Valley/Catalina and Green Valley/Sahuarita. A rebranding of transit vehicles included a new color scheme for consistency, new centralized customer service and an upcoming Smart Card fare technology to simplify fare payment and system transfers.
• Many transit services have been implemented through Sun Tran to expand weekday, evening and weekend service, and add express service. Also, the $30 million bus storage maintenance facility is well on its way to completion.
• The citizens’ committee for the RTA’s largest roadway project, Grant Road, has determined a final alignment and is now beginning the final design process, with construction set to begin early in the second period of the RTA.
• Safety improvements include 82 intersection improvements and 30 pedestrian crossing improvements, known as high-intensity activated crosswalks or HAWKs.