As many of you know, I embarked on my public sector journey during the formative years of the Regional Transportation Authority. Being a new car dealer, I was asked in 2005 to represent my industry’s interests and the general interest of the business community. I also served on the original RTA Citizen’s Advisory Committee.
I was designated as the pro-roadway expansion member (fitting for a car dealer, I suppose) and I sat next to and with “the other side”, members who favored more mass transit, with biking and pedestrian enhancements. This committee included fervent supporters of the “Modern Streetcar”. At first, the seating arrangements were a bit awkward and tense, but as the numerous meetings ground on, not only did all of us relax together, we actually became friends. For the sake of brevity, I’ll simply say that our CAC struck a public deal and the RTA became a reality, Modern Streetcar and all.
Later, after I sold my auto dealership, I served as the southern Arizona representative to the Arizona State Transportation Board. In this position, I also served on the RTA Board, which I later chaired. The point of all this background is to underscore my belief and commitment to regional transportation, regional infrastructure planning, and especially, the RTA.
The past few weeks have been busy with meetings with Southeast Region leaders such as the Vail School District, the Rincon Valley Fire Department, and the Vail Historical Society. We have heard and discussed each group’s concerns about transportation needs in the greater Vail area and the urgency to express those needs to the current RTA leadership in time for inclusion in the RTA Next Plan and subsequent vote to renew the RTA.
Top of mind for each group are improvements and enhancements to Mary Ann Cleveland Way and, of course, the Colossal Cave Road fly-over of the railroad tracks. These are major corridor and throughput expansion projects but also, and most importantly, these are safety improvements that are greatly needed for EMT services, residential and commercial deliveries, and evacuation routes. Each involves complex and multi-tiered plans that quite frankly should have been addressed years ago – and they are very expensive.
Our Southeast Region is the fastest growing area in Pima County and if the RTA doesn’t include the Greater Vail projects, our exploding growth will really put us behind the eight-ball. I urge all of you to take the RTA survey, attend the public meetings, and have your voices heard.
There is much drama continually unfolding with RTA. Is the City of Tucson going to abandon the RTA? Are all of the other jurisdictions going to remain on-board with RTA Next? Do our region’s residents want road improvements or “skinny streets”? Can the RTA even get voter approval, slated for November 2025? We’ll keep you updated.
Sadly, we have lost a longtime and devoted public servant, Marana Mayor Ed Honnea. He was an integral part of the RTA from the very beginning and a strong voice for regional transportation planning. Not only will his wisdom and common sense be missed on the RTA Board, but also his years of experience and knowledge about the importance of the RTA and effective leadership in general. I will miss my friend, Mayor Ed, and we send or condolences to his family and the Marana community.
Let us hope the RTA finds a way forward, with a course set to complete projects and to keep promises made including, and especially, our Southeast Region’s transportation capacity needs.
Pima County Supervisor Steve Christy, District 4
33 N. Stone Avenue, Floor 11
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-724-8094
district4@pima.gov