Pima County Business Leaders Urge RTA Board to Pass a Fully Funded 20-Year RTA Next
Tucson, Arizona- NextNow – a coalition of local business and community leaders dedicated to moving Pima County forward – applauds the substantial progress made by the RTA board and staff over the last month. Via the advocacy of our local jurisdictions, the RTA board has overcome many hurdles and is now one step closer to passing the RTA Next. This plan will lay the foundation for Southern Arizona’s continued success over the next 20 years. Recently, RTA staff were asked to investigate the feasibility of a 20-year RTA Next while only funding the plan for 10 years. NextNow strongly encourages the RTA board to ensure there is a reliable and sustained funding mechanism for RTA Next that lasts the full 20 years of the plan. “We are immensely grateful for the time and effort that the RTA board and staff have invested in bringing us this far. Six months ago, we feared there might have been no RTA Next plan at all. Facing a tight deadline, RTA Chair Mayor Joe Winfield, RTA Board Member Mayor Regina Romero, and Executive Director Mike Ortega have worked tirelessly to bring focus and consensus around the RTA Next process. We are beyond grateful for their leadership,” said SALC Vice Chair Alejandro Angel.
SAHBA President David Godlewski added, “As we approach the last RTA board meeting where a plan can be passed, the member groups of NextNow feel that we must urgently address the length of the plan’s funding. We believe a 10-year funding mechanism, as opposed to the stability afforded by fully funding RTA Next for 20 years, would be a severe mistake for Southern Arizona.”
Expanding on Godlewski’s comments, Ian McDowell of Sundt Construction said, “A 20-year plan with only 10 years of funding would provide insufficient time to deliver much-needed infrastructure projects and hold back our regional economy. Specifically, only funding the plan for 10 years creates planning inefficiencies, creates higher long-term costs, and can lead to a loss of federal matching funds, potentially stranding started projects halfway through. None of these are beneficial for Tucson’s economy.”
“If the goal of RTA Next is to build up our economy and provide Pima County residents with long-term certainty that their roads will improve, and not slide into disrepair, then fully funding the RTA Next plan for its full 20 years is the only option,” Lisa Hagins of ATB said. She continued, “Transit riders, too, would suffer from only 10 years of funding. Our cities would be forced to cut bus routes when federal funds lapse, exposing hard-working Pima residents who rely on transit to unnecessary barriers on their commutes. These are not outcomes worth risking. We urge the RTA board to fund RTA Next for the full 20 years.”
About NextNow:
NextNow is a coalition of business leaders, professional associations, and community advocates united to secure the renewal of Southern Arizona’s 20-year Regional Transportation Plan by aligning technical expertise with forward-thinking policy solutions.
NextNow Members:
Arizona Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (www.azagc.org)
Arizona Transportation Builders Association (www.movingyoureconomy.org)
Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (www.sahba.org)
AZ – American Council of Engineering Companies (www.acecaz.org)
Southern Arizona Leadership Council (www.salc.org)
HDR, Inc. (www.hdrinc.com)
Psomas (www.psomas.com)
Sundt Construction (www.sundt.com)
For more information contact Contact: Joe Wolf
jw@fillmorestrategy.com
571 225 7281
