Central City Neighborhood Residents
Submitted by:
Ted Hinderaker, Sam Hughes Neighborhood Resident
Clague Van Slyke, Peter Howell Neighborhood Resident
Joy Herr-Cardillo, Sam Hughes Neighborhood Resident
Steve Farley, Blenman Elm Neighborhood Resident
Rob Rauh, Blenman Elm Neighborhood Resident
Pete Zimmerman, San Clemente Neighborhood Resident
Carol Zimmerman, San Clemente Neighborhood Resident
The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) does not cure all of Pima County’s transportation woes, but it is the best chance we have to begin meeting our transportation challenges.
The Plan is built from a regional perspective with input from all segments of our community, including central neighborhoods. Thousands of hours of citizen involvement over the past two years have produced a balanced comprehensive transportation plan.
The Regional Transportation Authority and the local municipalities will collaborate with small businesses and neighborhoods to design the roadway projects. The results will benefit the community as well as the affected neighborhoods. Roads will be widened where necessary, sidewalks and safety features added, bus pullouts and intersection improvements created, and bike lanes expanded, creating exciting possibilities for pedestrian-friendly mixed-use zones on arterials that border vibrant neighborhoods.
The RTP also contains a revolutionary transit component, including expanded bus service, express bus routes, and a streetcar project that will connect Rio Nuevo and downtown with the neighborhoods surrounding the University. The streetcar project leverages local funds with matching federal money that allows more money for other street projects. The streetcar project will cost less than 4% of the total plan and is cheaper in the long run than express busses, massive central city road widening or the exorbitant cost of doing nothing.
Pima County is the only county in Arizona without a transportation sales tax. The average per person investment of approximately $24 per year will improve our quality of life, save each of us time and money, and be one the best investments we can make for our community and our children.
As central city residents who have been active in our neighborhoods, we ask you to vote yes on Questions 1 and 2.
