Southern Arizona Unions Endorse Q1&2

Representing the voices of more than 20,000 labor-union members in Southern Arizona, the Pima Area Labor Federation of the Arizona AFL-CIO recently announced its support of the Regional Transportation Plan for Pima County, joining an unprecedented coalition endorsing Questions 1 and 2.

If passed by voters on May 16, the improvements in the 20-year transportation plan will benefit working families…

Continue Reading Add comment April 21st, 2006

How the RTA Plan Preserves the Environment

We all want to live in a safe, beautiful, healthy community. This comprehensive, regional Transportation Plan will help us build that kind of community, now, and for generations to come.

Improved air quality

This Plan will reduce air pollution because it will give us more viable options besides just driving our cars and trucks and it will help reduce traffic congestion and idling times through better traffic flow.

We need to address our air quality problems before they get worse. Currently Tucsonans drive over 22 million miles a day. Approximately 60 percent of Tucson’s air pollution comes from on-road motor vehicles. Vehicles emit most of the substances that are the major cause of the brown cloud that hovers over Tucson.

With increasing congestion and stringent air quality regulations, the region eventually could face non-compliance issues. In 2003, Tucson was rated as the nation’s most challenging “hot spot” for asthma.

Having real options besides only driving will help us reduce air pollution.

This plan will make it easier to take the bus, use the new modern streetcar, or ride our bikes to get where we’re going. This Plan will revolutionize the Sun Tran bus system by expanding routes and hours and give us the Modern Streetcar in the urban core. This Plan will also give us 550 miles of additional bike lanes and paths, 250 miles of sidewalks, and 80 pedestrian crossings.

The plan also includes several strategies for reducing idling times. An idling car emits 12 times the amount of carbon monoxide pollution than one traveling at 30 mph. There will be 200 bus pullouts, 200 intersection improvements, and 10 improved railroad crossings. All of these improvements will help to reduce idling times and thus the toxins that clog our beautiful skies and our lungs.

Improved bicycle lanes

This plan allows for the addition of 550 miles of new bicycle lanes including 38 miles of shared use paths with pedestrians, inline skaters, runners, etc. Bicycle facilities off main arterial roads will provide safe and pleasurable bicycling experiences for both commuters and recreational riders.

Another major feature of the RTA plan is approximately $50 Million set aside for bicycle development and expansion, which is an unprecedented amount set aside for bicycle development in the history of our county.

In 2006, Bicycling Magazine named Tucson the No. 2 city for riding a bike. Implementing the improvements in the Plan could give us what we need to move toward being the best bicycling city in the United States.

Recycling will save taxpayers money

Many of the materials used for roadway projects in the Plan– asphalt, concrete, etc. – will be recycled from past projects. More than 80 percent of asphalt on road resurfacing and widening projects is reused. This saves taxpayers money and reduces demand on landfills.

More natural landscaping

Landscaping included in the Plan’s improvements would include desert vegetation that requires low water usage. Landscaping would be used in medians. Plants that provide shade would be used near bus shelters. Overall, landscaping would reduce the heat-island effect, a problem in urban areas due to heat retention in asphalt.

Protections for the Sonoran Desert

The Plan works with the values of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan to help us protect the desert eco-system and decrease sprawl.

The Plan includes $45 million for critical wildlife linkages. The linkages, which would eliminate or reduce barriers to wildlife, would allow wildlife to move safely throughout the region. This will also help to reduce accidents involving cars and animals. This innovative element of the Plan will make our roads less deadly for our native wildlife and for drivers.

The high-capacity modern streetcar will make it easier to get around the urban core of Tucson and make downtown a more attractive place to live. This will help reduce urban sprawl by building up the center of the community. The streetcar system allows the urban core to grow, without having to widen streets. Once the rails are laid, more streetcars can be added to the system to meet demand.

Modern streetcars are also better for the environment than buses because they are electric, don’t wear down roads, hold twice as many people and last about two times longer.

Environmental advocates support this plan, won’t you?

Groups like Families Against Cancer and Toxins, Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, and the Sonoran Institute and other environmental advocates have all officially endorsed this Plan.

This comprehensive Plan will help us take care of the environment and enhance the quality of life for those living in Pima County. Passing the Regional Transportation Plan on May 16 will be an important next step to building the kind of community we all want to live in, now and for generations to come

Add comment April 3rd, 2006

How the RTA Plan Improves Public Transit

To remain a viable and vibrant urban community in the 21st century, the Tucson region must invest in public transit. Not everyone in our community can afford a car. Some can’t drive. And for the sake of the environment, some choose to take public transit.

The freedom for all citizens to travel throughout our cities is vital for a strong community and economy.

The Regional Transportation Plan includes many public transit improvements that will build upon the success of the current transit system.

The Transportation Plan will:

–> Add bus routes
–> Expand transit services for seniors and people with disabilities
–> Add new park-and-ride centers making commuting by bus easier
–> Enhance the urban core by adding a modern streetcar

About 27 percent—or almost $534 million—of the $2.1 billion total plan will go to transit improvements.

IMPROVED BUS SERVICE

Expanded Hours

During the week the expanded hours will benefit workers, students and families who depend on transit for daily commutes, many routes will run until midnight. This makes it possible for people to break the cycle of poverty through night classes and/or working a second shift.

Easier Commutes

The Plan will also make it easier to use the bus for commuting to work or to cultural events in downtown Tucson.

Six new express routes will be added during weekday peak hours along with six new park-and-ride centers located in outlying communities with connecting routes to central Tucson. The new park-and-ride locations will include: Oro Valley, Marana, Green Valley, Valencia Rd/Casino del Sol area, Rita Ranch area, and Houghton/Broadway area.

Benefits for Seniors

During the next 20 years, a projected 54 percent increase in the total population of Pima County will result in a 67 percent increase in transportation needs for seniors and those who face physical challenges.

Within the Transportation Plan there are a number of items that will directly benefit seniors and those who assist them.

More Local Services

Transit services will be added within Oro Valley, Marana, Green Valley, and the community of Ajo. These new services are intended to provide daily connections to local activity centers as well as the regional bus routes.

Volunteer Transit Service

An innovative aspect of the Transportation plan is called the Volunteer Transit Service. This is a creative way to provide support to volunteers who transport seniors and others to doctor’s appointments, shopping and other services. Tucson’s Van Tran, Oro Valley’s Coyote Run, and Pima County’s Pima Transit will all be expanded by about 3.5 percent annually to meet the needs of our community.

High-Capacity Modern Streetcar System

Better than a bus

The high-capacity modern streetcar is far superior to buses, will greatly increase the ease of getting around the urban core of Tucson, and generate tremendous economic growth.

The streetcar system will link the University of Arizona and downtown along a 4-mile corridor in central Tucson between. It’s expected that 100,000 people will use the streetcars in the system each week.

Some of the benefits of modern streetcars:

–> Modern streetcars are more comfortable and quieter than buses.
–> Modern streetcars don’t pollute.
–> One modern streetcar holds twice as many people as a bus.
–> People enter at curb level, so there’s no need for special devices for wheelchairs.
–> The streetcar system allows the urban core to grow, without having to widen streets.
–> Once the rails are laid, we can add more streetcars to the system to meet demand.
–> Half of the costs for the streetcar system will be paid for by federal funds.
–> Modern streetcars last 25 to 30 years before having to be replaced, buses, 10 to 15.

Economic benefits

For every $1 dollar we spend on construction of the modern streetcar system in central Tucson, we can expect $10 of return in economic development. Portland, Oregon, built a similar streetcar system and saw $1.4 billion in new development invested along the streetcar line.

Operating costs are covered in the Transportation Plan along with matching federal funds to pay for maintaining and running the streetcars for the next 20 years.

Transit makes sense

Overall, the public transit improvements in the Regional Transportation Plan will give our citizens more freedom, help preserve our air quality, reduce traffic by making public transit more attractive and convenient, and contribute to our general economy.

Add comment April 3rd, 2006

Steve Christy’s Star Streetcar OpEd

The Star today published an opinion article by Steve Christy (Chrysler/Jeep dealer and Citizen Advisory Committee member) laying out the facts of why the Modern Streetcar, while only 4% of the total RTA plan, is vitally important to our regional transportation system.

Continue Reading Add comment February 11th, 2006

Transit details available

The RTA now has detailed information on the specific routes and services dramatically improved by the public transit element of the RTA plan, you can find it here from the RTA Website.

Continue Reading Add comment January 26th, 2006