When Pima County voters go to the ballot box November 3, they’ll be voting on seven propositions totaling $815.8 million that will give them the opportunity to address road repair, economic development projects, historic preservation, parks and more. This article highlights road repair.
Prop 425 focuses on funding for road repair and pavement preservation. Pima County residents will have the opportunity to invest in infrastructure that is in disrepair. If Prop 425 passes, Pima County residents will invest $30 million in the “Sonoran Corridor Highway” that would link Interstate 19 to Interstate 10, south of Tucson International Airport. It is estimated that developing the Sonoran Corridor will add $32.2 billion annually to the local economy and generate over 100,000 jobs.
Prop 425 would also provide $10 million for improving 1.4 miles of Science Park Drive into a four lane divided parkway that provides public access to the UA Tech Park and the proposed Southeast Regional Library and YMCA near Rita Road and Science Park Drive. These projects will promote job growth and economic development.
Finally, $160 million will address road improvements, where 60 percent of the funds are allocated to arterial and collector roads and 40 percent will be reserved for local residential roads. About 374 miles of major roadways will be repaved and at least 300 miles of local roadways will be repaired. Upon passage of Prop 425, the Board of Supervisors will create a seven-member Pavement Preservation Commission. Five members would be appointed by each member of the Board of Supervisors and two by the County Administrator.
Each road bond will be repaid within 10 years, which is shorter than our standard 15-year bond terms. This is considered short-term debt compared to the average terms of municipal bonds across the country.
It is a well-known fact that Arizona is lagging the rest of the nation in funding transportation. The state gas tax has not been raised in about 25 years and the state has swept millions from the Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) to balance the state budget. County governments depend on HURF money to fund transportation improvements and repairs.
When residents live in an unincorporated area they are reliant on the County to deliver transportation funding. Unfortunately, the well is dry. Without alternative transportation funding, it will be difficult to fund road improvements in the unincorporated area. We must take matters into our own hands to fix these roads. The state will not help us. The federal government will not help us. They are both in worse shape than Pima County is when it comes to transportation funding. Bonding is not the ideal way to pay for the roads, but it is the only valid alternative for addressing these road issues for now.
Take these realities into consideration before voting on November 3rd.
