Arizona Society of Civil Engineers
Submitted by:
Scott Leska, P.E., President
Last year, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) completed an extensive evaluation of the infrastructure needs in all 50 states. The excessively congested and deteriorating roads in the Greater Tucson area were identified as having some of the most critical deficiencies in Arizona. ASCE congratulates Pima County’s citizens and governmental jurisdictions for initiating the plan outline for a Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). This plan will certainly help rectify a large amount of the most pressing and longest neglected transportation needs of our region. The plan includes major improvements for our region’s roads, transit system, bicycle facilities and pedestrian ways.
The continuing population growth in Pima County has congested the region’s streets to the point that citizens are unable to traverse across town without experiencing gridlock and frustration. Through exhaustive efforts from the public and from professionals in the transportation industry, the RTA plan includes provisions that provide assurances for strong citizen oversight committees to insure accountability that each project listed will be carried out, and that the funding for those projects will not be earmarked elsewhere.
Growth cannot be stifled and will inevitably continue to increase whether our transportation network accommodates it or not. As indicated by this continued growth, citizens will live increasingly more distant from work. To reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, fuel consumption and frustration, and to fix major deficiencies in our transportation system now, it is imperative that Pima County’s citizens join together to support and approve the RTA transportation plan and its funding mechanism.
