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Two years after approval, Tucson’s Prop 4.11 program reports pavement, curb‑ramp and safety projects under way
Summary
City transportation staff told council the voter‑approved Proposition 4.11 neighborhood‑and‑safe‑streets program has completed or put under contract work in dozens of neighborhoods and layered safe‑streets investments with existing projects to extend reach.
Transportation staff updated the council on implementation of Proposition 4.11 (the Tucson Delivers Better Streets program), telling the council the city has made measurable progress on neighborhood pavement conditions and safe‑streets investments.
Director of Transportation Mobility Sam Credio said Prop 4.11 authorized a half‑cent sales tax projected to raise about $740 million over 10 years, with 80% for neighborhood street improvements and 20% for safe streets. Credio said the city began the program with a list of 60 initial neighborhoods; 53 of those 60 are under contract and 22 had been completed at the time of the presentation.
Credio showed before‑and‑after pavement condition mapping, noting local streets rated “poor” or “very poor” fell from a little over 80% prior to the program to about 67% in recent updates. He highlighted site‑level outcomes, such as upgraded curb access ramps in multiple neighborhoods and larger collector projects that will combine collector‑street funding with safe‑streets elements.
Safe streets and layered funds. The director emphasized the safe‑streets portion (the 20% allocation) has funded dozens of safety improvements, primarily signal equipment upgrades, and that staff and the Complete Streets Coordinating Council have sought opportunities to “layer” safe‑streets dollars with existing paving or RTA projects. Credio cited Stone Avenue’s cycle track and a buffered bike lane on Silver Bell as examples where safety dollars were combined with other capital work.
Collector streets. Prop 4.11 included a pledge to dedicate $15 million a year for five years of local funding for collector streets. Credio said work has already begun on multiple collector projects, including Bilby Road (pavement, sidewalks and streetlights) and an ongoing 12‑mile Stella Avenue project.
Schedule and oversight. Credio explained the program was broken into three‑year phases for delivery. Phase 1 includes 135 neighborhoods; the city had contracts for dozens of those projects and has collected nearly $150 million in revenue to date, expending more than half of that sum. Credio thanked the Independent Oversight and Accountability Commission (IOAC) and the Complete Streets Coordinating Council for volunteer oversight.
Council questions focused on communications to residents about construction schedules, the seven‑year street safety implementation plan approved by the Complete Streets Coordinating Council, and how to address arterial corridors not covered by Prop 4.11. Credio said the city manages community communications in‑house but will tighten notifications, and that arterial funding (for some arterials) historically comes from other sources such as Prop 101 or the regional transportation authority.
Ending: Credio said the program is running at a “good pace” and that the city will continue working with the IOAC, the Coordinating Council and neighborhoods to roll projects out quickly and keep residents informed.
