Voters had mixed opinions as they dropped off their ballots on Tuesday, the final day in the election on Propositions 418 and 419, ballot measures that could determine the future of transportation in Pima County.
“I voted yes. I’m not really thrilled, I didn’t think my options were great,” said Thomas Nickerson after dropping off a ballot at the Pima County Recorder’s Office in downtown Tucson.
The two propositions would approve RTA Next — a 20-year transportation plan for Pima County — and a 0.5% sales tax to fund it. While most of the $2.67 billion plan is dedicated to widening and modernizing roads, it would also keep the local public transit system running and fund new pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
The Regional Transportation Authority and its sales tax were first approved by voters in 2006 for a period of 20 years. RTA Next includes funding to complete several unfinished projects from that plan, including some that are in progress, like Grant Road’s modernization, and some that have not been started, like rebuilding parts of First Avenue.
If RTA Next fails, those projects could take longer to complete or be canceled outright, according to RTA board member Ted Maxwell. Meanwhile, Tucson could see cuts to bus service, according to the city’s Department of Transportation and Mobility. And while some suburban mayors have told AZPM they would pursue their own local transportation taxes if RTA Next fails, Tucson City Council members have expressed hesitation about doing so in the county’s largest city.
“When you look at the overall funding and how much would be cut from our transportation and infrastructure, I feel like, let’s see what we can improve upon, let’s see what we can do with the funding we have,” said Brittany Caldwell, who said she voted for RTA Next at the county recorder’s office on Tuesday.
Over 190,000 people — about 29.3% of registered voters — had already submitted ballots by Monday evening, according to the Pima County Recorder’s Office.
Opponents of RTA Next have said the plan spends too much on expanding suburban roads and not enough on maintaining older streets in the City of Tucson. Several voters echoed those criticisms.
“It looks like a lot of newer projects, but not really maintenance of the things that are going on already,” said Darlene Holtrop, who said she voted against the propositions. “So I was a little skeptical.”
Those suburban projects are not relevant enough to Tucson residents to support the propositions, said Kate Saunders, who said she voted against them.
“I’d like to see something that’s full of regional, shared priorities. That way, if our money is going out of the city of Tucson, it’s for things that are of shared values for Tucson voters,” said Saunders, who works for Living Streets Alliance, a pedestrian and bicycle advocacy group that opposed RTA Next.
RTA Next does include almost $180 million for repaving worn-out streets, primarily in the City of Tucson, a quicker repair than the plan’s typical full-scale overhauls. One voter, a volunteer with a local astronomy association, said it was a reason to support the plan.
“I tend to drive around with my telescope in my car, and I really don’t want to see it all roughed up by the potholes,” said Max Lipitz, who said he voted for the propositions.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero has said that the future of the city’s free buses may depend on passing RTA Next. One voter said the policy was on her mind.
“I think it’s important for us to be keeping free transit service,” said Shawn Campbell, without specifying how she voted on the propositions.
Ballots in the election for Propositions 418 and 419 can be dropped off until 7 p.m. on March 10 at several locations around Pima County.
Pro-RTA Next campaign came with hefty price tag##
The backers of Propositions 418 and 419 raised over $1.4 million, according to Connect Pima, the pro-RTA Next political action committee.
Its top donors were trade groups representing the construction and real estate industries, including the Associated General Contractors’ Arizona chapter, which donated $240,000, and the National Association of Realtors, which gave $100,000, according to a pre-election campaign finance report by Connect Pima.
Other prominent donors included the Southern Arizona Leadership Council — a business executives’ group led by RTA board member Ted Maxwell — corporate landlord HSL Management Services and auto dealer Jim Click.
Connect Pima spent almost $900,000 on advertising supporting the two propositions, including mailers, signs and TV commercials.
Note: this story was updated to correct an error. Connect Pima raised over $1.4 million, not $1.9 million.
