Tucson's streets in 20 years

The crown jewel of the Regional Transportation Authority’s accomplishments is probably the modern streetcar, which connects Tucson’s west side to the University of Arizona by cutting a path through downtown.

It’s pretty popular with locals, pushing more riders into regular mass-transit use, and has been credited with more than $3 billion in private-sector capital investment along the 3.9-mile route.

On the other side of the coin, there’s a substantial list of unfinished projects promised to voters a little more than 20 years ago, when they first approved the creation of the taxing district designed to build transportation improvements across Pima County.

While the streetcar is the best-known RTA project, the regional collaboration between Tucson, Pima County, South Tucson, three towns and two tribal governments has also helped fund road projects, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, safety upgrades and extended bus service to outlying areas across the county.

In a few weeks, voters will receive ballots for Propositions 418 and 419 — collectively known as RTA Next — asking voters to extend the half-cent sales tax for another two decades.

Election Day is March 10.

What RTA Next does not have is a sexy, gossip-worthy project on par with the modern streetcar. Hell, we’re not even talking about extending the streetcar route.

Technically, Proposition 418 asks voters to approve the proposed regional transportation plan, while Proposition 419 keeps the half-cent sales tax in place. And as we keep the failure of last year’s Proposition 414 in mind, it’s worth emphasizing this: RTA Next does not raise the sales-tax rate — it keeps it exactly where it is today.

We’re going to largely focus today’s edition on what RTA Next would mean for the City of Tucson. But first, we need a quick refresher on where we’ve been — and where RTA Next would take us if voters back Propositions 418 and 419 in March. And what likely happens if they don’t.

The big accomplishments of the original RTA in Tucson — other than building the streetcar — include the widening of parts of Houghton and Grant roads, along with pouring millions into smaller transportation projects citywide.

Here’s a quick by-the-numbers breakdown of the RTA’s accomplishments countywide:

As of the end of 2025, the RTA had completed 1,053 total projects, spending more than $1.73 billion on regional transportation.

But not all of the RTA’s promises were fulfilled — thanks to a combination of funding shortfalls, project cost overruns, internal bureaucratic turf wars and, in some cases, a lack of political consensus on projects approved two decades ago.

The expansion of Grant Road is a good microcosm of what went right — and what went wrong — with the original voter-approved plan.

By the end of this year, the RTA will have completed widening Grant Road to six lanes, with improved bike lanes, sidewalks, transit stops and drainage along sections between Oracle and Swan.

But a central section of the project — from Fremont Avenue to Sparkman Boulevard— included in the voter-approved package in 2004, is still about 18 months out, said Sam Credo, director of the Tucson Department of Transportation.

With a $50 million price tag, the unfinished section of the Grant Road widening project has been included in the RTA Next proposal.

If voters don’t approve the two propositions, the project could be stalled indefinitely, even though the RTA and the city have already spent millions on design work and property acquisition along Grant Road.

A reminder: The city is facing a $40 million budget shortfall in the next fiscal year, and the city charter prioritizes funding for core services — which do not necessarily include road-widening projects. Even popular ones.

Other large projects shifted from the current RTA plan to RTA Next include a now-rescoped plan for 22nd Street improvements east of Interstate 10, including a planned bridge over the Union Pacific rail lines. A full list of RTA Next projects can be found here.

A lesser-known aspect of the RTA is its role in funding bus service and other forms of mass transit across the greater Tucson area.

RTA Next promises an estimated $720 million dedicated to public transit, with a majority of that funding directed to projects inside Tucson’s city limits. That’s nearly $200 million more than what was included in the first RTA plan.

If voters decide against renewing the half-cent countywide transportation tax, the impact on bus service would be severe — especially for routes outside the city limits.

The countywide structure of the RTA means that Sun Tran — a city-run system — helps fund transit routes well beyond Tucson’s borders.

Two maps emerged from the Tucson City Council meeting Wednesday night, laying out a worst-case scenario for how service would be affected if voters reject RTA Next.

The first image shows the current scope of bus services.

The “No RTA Next” version showed significantly fewer routes and slower service, reflecting an estimated $10.3 million loss in revenue.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero has sat on the RTA board for the last five years and said the somber discussion was hard, but necessary.

She added that for the RTA Next proposal to move forward — given the competing needs of different communities — compromises were inevitable.

Newly elected Councilmember Miranda Schubert raised concerns about whether there is a Plan B if voters reject Propositions 418 and 419.

A big proponent of mass transit, Schubert wasn’t on the council when it signed off on the RTA Next proposal now on the ballot.

She told her colleagues she plans to meet with RTA director — and former Tucson City Manager — Mike Ortega to discuss possible backup plans if voters reject it.

RTA Next doesn’t promise a crown jewel like the streetcar. Instead, it asks voters whether the region is willing to continue to pay to keep the lights on, the buses running and the half-built roads from staying half-built forever.

Ballots for Proposition 418 snd 419 are expected to be mailed on February 11.