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After 4 failed attempts to convince Pima county residents to raise a half cent sales tax to pay for transportation improvements, in 2006 the RTA plan passed by a 3-2 margin. The proposal has so far invested 1.6 billion dollars to Road improvements, bike and walkways and alternative transportation. Major projects were completed along Houghton, Tangerine, Valencia and along Silverbell among others. Midtown streets like Grant and Broadway underwent extensive road widenings. RTA partially funded the streetcar and the controversial downtown links project that is still under construction.
On March 10 2026, 20 years after the first RTA election, Pima County residents will have an opportunity to vote on RTA Next, which will continue the existing half cent sales tax and the Regional Transportation Authority for another 20 years. Major improvements are planned for Irving, Drexel, Prince, Orange Grove, 29th Street and the new Sonoran Corridor.
Producer: Andrew Brown
Videographer: Nathan Huffman, Daniel Ramirez, Danny Sax
Editor: Nathan Huffman
Color: Emmanuel Joubeaud
