FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE PLAN? Click here for an overview and details.
WHY DO WE NEED THIS REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN?
Why didn’t the Regional Transportation Plan and half-cent sales tax happen sooner?
We should have passed the sales tax and implemented the Plan years ago. Transportation revenues have been too little to meet the growth in transportation demand over the past twenty years. The gasoline tax, our major source of transportation funding, has been unchanged since 1990 and inflation has cut its value by half. Local governments have imposed development impact fees, used voter-approved bonds, and levied other taxes, but we are still short of the revenues truly needed to construct the system we desire.
Why do we need the Plan?
One of the fastest-growing areas in our nation, the Tucson Metropolitan area has not kept pace with our growing transportation needs. Since 1982, the number of hours of delay due to congestion has increased by 700 percent. In 2005, congestion cost the average family over $1,000 per year. Congestion will only worsen and congestion costs will only increase if we do not act now. Implementing the Plan and sales tax will help us catch up with current traffic congestion problems and prepare us to keep current with future needs.
Shouldn’t new development pay for itself?
New development already pays for itself. The four largest jurisdictions already collect development impact fees to fund transportation and another jurisdiction imposes a construction sales tax to support transportation. These fees are paid by developers in high growth areas to create roads and return those dollars into our local economy.
How bad will traffic get?
Pima County’s population should reach 1 million by 2007. This means traffic congestion compounded by employment growth, students traveling to school each day and tourism population spikes during the winter. According to statistics used by the Texas Transportation Institute to calculate population growth rates and road usage, Pima County’s drive time/congestion grows exponentially after 2005.
HOW WAS THE PLAN CREATED? WHO WAS INVOLVED?
Is this whole Plan just developer-driven, forcing sprawl and promoting unchecked growth? Just who does the Plan help?
No. The Citizens Advisory Committee designed the plan to fix existing problems and meet the transportation needs of current residents. For example, the geographic population center of Tucson is near Speedway and Campbell. Approximately 75 percent of the population lives within 10 miles of the point and approximately 75 percent of plan expenditures will occur within the same area. The plan will support people who live here now by developing better roads, improving mass transit, and providing alternative transportation options.
Who is in support of the Plan?
For starters, the regional transportation plan was created by a group of citizens from all walks of life. Together they came up with a plan that’s a win-win for everyone. And this is the first time that every jurisdiction in Pima County, including both local Native American tribes, has voted unanimously to approve the same plan for the region. Finally, the Yes!! For Regional Transportation Committee, who is working together to get the plan passed, is a very diverse and passionate group. Environmentalists are working side by side with builders because we know we need to do this together for the future of our community.
What is the Regional Transportation Authority?
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) helps local governments in Pima County come together to identify transportation priorities and design projects to meet regional needs.
Who’s paying for this campaign?
There are hundreds of donations from Pima County residents, local associations, professional groups and companies. By law, we will always list the top three donors on all “Yes!! For Regional Transportation” materials, but will also list others to show the diversity of support for the Plan.
Why can’t Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds be used for the RTA Plan?
TIF funds can only be used for the Rio Nuevo downtown development initiatives and the transportation Plan for Pima County is regional in scope.
HOW WILL THE PLAN BE FUNDED?
Aren’t higher gasoline taxes a more appropriate revenue source?
Gasoline taxes are an appropriate source of transportation funding and are currently the major source of local transportation funding. Raising gasoline taxes, however, is not the best option. Only the state has the authority to raise the gas tax and the legislature has shown no inclination to do so. Gasoline taxes, moreover, would have to be raised by at least 20-cents a gallon, costing the average driver an additional $243 in the first year. To be an effective source of additional revenues, the new gasoline tax would need to be raised each year to account for inflation. Perhaps most importantly, the Arizona state constitution does not allow us to use gasoline taxes to fund transit.
Can’t we use general obligation bonds to fund transportation?
General obligation bonds have been used in the past to fund transportation improvements. There are significant restrictions on the amount of funding that could be managed through general obligation bonds, however. General obligation bonds are repaid through secondary property taxes. To support the same annual revenue stream generated by a sales tax would require very significant, probably unacceptable increases in property tax rates, which are already the highest in the state. Issuing bonds hits property taxes and truly puts the burden on a small group of people within the county. Using general obligation bonds to finance transportation forces local governments to make hard choices between transportation and other high priority needs like justice and law enforcement. Furthermore, it is conceivable selling bonds each year at this rate would soon bring Pima County up to its legal debt limit in a few short years, stopping further bond sales. Finally, general obligation bond revenues cannot be used to finance increases in transit operations, such as adding more buses and routes.
Why aren’t any freeways included in the Plan?
A freeway system would cost an estimated $100 million per mile. Obviously, with the limited funding, we could not afford this and still be able to provide the other transportation improvements across the region. A freeway would displace thousands of families and businesses, split neighborhoods, provide significant barriers to north-south travel, and impose a visual nightmare, all the unfortunate legacies of the early years of the interstate.
Once the Plan is approved, can we modify it? Can the ½-cent sales tax be used for other projects?
Any major changes that significantly alter the vision of the plan need to be approved by the voters. The Plan was created after more than a year of research and dozens of public meetings seeking citizen input. It cannot be modified in any way at this point, nor can that ½-cent sales tax be used for anything other than funding of the Plan. In 20 years, the Plan will be completed and the sales tax will expire unless renewed by another countywide vote.
How much can we raise through a 20-year sales tax?
The sales tax will raise an estimated $2.1 billion. The revenue forecast was indexed for inflation, so the actual funds raised through the sales tax will be closer to $2.7 billion
How will we know it will be spent on the Plan?
There will be a Citizens Oversight Committee to review Plan expenses and project progress. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) will also produce an annual report on the Plan which will be available to the public. In addition, if there is more than a 10 percent change in expenses on implementing any of the Plan’s transportation modes, this change will go back to the voters for additional review and approval.
What is the economic benefit of approving the plan and the sales tax?
Implementing the Plan would mean 10,000 new jobs in Pima County annually. Less than 25 percent of the jobs would be in the transportation construction industry. Annual state and local tax revenues will increase by $114 million, which will fund essential government services. In addition, completing the Plan’s projects will provide an $11.4 billion increase in economic productivity and a $3.8 billion increase in family incomes for the county. Businesses can expect to see a production cost savings of nearly $446 million from the transportation improvements.
Is there a cost to me if I don’t vote for the Plan and the ½-cent sales tax? Is there a cost if I’m stuck in traffic?
Rush-hour drivers in the Pima County region each lost $603 annually in wasted time (36 hours) and fuel (22 gallons) stuck in traffic. Collectively, this costs the region $233 million and 13.8 million hours in lost productivity. And, Pima County residents spend nearly $400 per year in additional vehicle expenses (repairs, tires, etc.) from driving on poor roads. Improving our public transportation will save an additional 1 million hours of commute time.
Don’t we already get transportation funding?
We need to implement the Plan and the sales tax because our population continues to grow, our transportation requirements continue to grow and our region is about $4 billion short to address these needs. Arizona’s state gasoline tax, which is used to fund our state’s transportation system, is at 18 cents and has remained virtually unchanged for 20 years.
Why can’t Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds be used for the RTA Plan?
TIF funds can only be used for the Rio Nuevo downtown development initiatives and the transportation Plan for Pima County is regional in scope.
Will historical roads in Tucson and Pima County be preserved in the Plan?
This will certainly be taken into consideration. Neighborhoods and businesses located in each of the designated road improvement projects will be involved in the planning of the changes and their wishes will take priority with the final development.
WHAT’S IN THE PLAN AND HOW CAN I KNOW IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED?
Is this all there is? How does the Plan fit with existing projects?
The Plan and sales tax are a huge new investment in our transportation system. We know it won’t solve all of the challenges we face, because even combining all possible sources of available funding, there just isn’t enough to do everything that needs to be done. But in this plan, local citizens – working together – prioritized the most important projects that we could accomplish as a region, given the small budget of possible funds available to our community. These are the things we simply must do. The projects outlined in the plan will be done on top of the ongoing transportation projects local governments will be doing with already available funds.
Who really pays for the Plan?
Approximately half of the Plan’s costs will be paid by visitors, business and government; the other half by residents. With the growth of new residents during the next 20 years in Pima County, these future inhabitants will pay approximately one third of the sales tax.
Why is a sales tax a good source for funding transportation?
You don’t pay sales tax on groceries, prescriptions and gasoline – the three major budget categories for families and individuals. Current and new residents will pay about half (51% to 58%) of the Plan’s cost with the rest coming from out-of-town visitors (20% to 30%) and government entities (30%). We can’t use a gas tax or general obligation bonds; both funding options which cost families more than a sales tax. By using a sales tax to meet these most critical transportation needs, the tax becomes an investment that pays back into your pocket. The average family in Pima County will see an increase of about $2 a month in their sales tax costs. Only a sales tax can fund increased transit services and we need to improve our mass transit services to help alleviate further congestion on the roads.
Is the Rio Nuevo tunnel for I-10 part of this Plan?
If a decision is made by the State of Arizona to tunnel I-10 under the Rio Nuevo development site this will be funded through the state’s Department of Transportation projects. This is not part of the Plan being voted on in May.
Who actually rides a bus or streetcar? “No one will ever ride that thing!”
Ten percent of Pima County residents live within walking distance to the streetcar route. More than 60,000 people each day ride Sun Tran buses and overcrowding is becoming a real problem.
What will be the effect on neighborhoods and businesses in the corridor area plans?
Neighborhoods and businesses most impacted will participate in the planning and design of the roadways.
What are the key components of the Plan?
The Plan has four components to address roadways, transit, safety and environmental needs. It is designed to promote an efficiently linked system of streets, transit, bikeways and pedestrian paths that enhances accessibility and the movement of people and goods, and maximizes use of technological innovations. The Plan’s components were compiled from those most urgently needed improvements to help with current transportation and transit needs.
