RTA Board Update: Remaining City Projects Active but $143M Shortfall Persists; RTA Next Outreach and Timeline Highlighted

The City of Tucson’s transportation director briefed the mayor and council March 4 on outcomes from a Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board meeting and a PAG Regional Council session the previous day. The RTA staff update reported a funding shortfall of approximately $143,000,000 to complete the remaining RTA plan projects after accounting for available funding. Separately, four substantial city projects have already been shifted to RTA Next and, according to the RTA presentation, deferred project value for RTA Next is about $239,000,000.

City of Tucson staff noted the city currently has 12 remaining RTA projects active in various stages (planning, design, or construction). RTA staff also presented three broad options to address the funding gap: (1) local jurisdictions provide additional funding; (2) reduce project expenditures (scope reductions); or (3) defer projects into RTA Next for a future funding measure. The RTA board discussion did not yield an immediate action; RTA is continuing outreach and planning for RTA Next.

Staff highlighted outreach metrics for RTA Next: between November and January the RTA held 15 open houses (including one virtual event) and conducted a region‑wide survey that drew 2,213 respondents. Staff cautioned that survey demographics underrepresented key populations — for example, only 14.6% of respondents self‑identified as Hispanic or Latino compared with a 42% Hispanic/Latino share in Pima County — and respondents with incomes below $50,000 were also underrepresented. RTA has contracted a consultant to engage hard‑to‑reach populations via targeted outreach, pop‑ups, intercept surveys on transit routes and other tactics; staff also noted an active comment link on the RTA Next website that produced about 74 emailed responses.

Timing: RTA staff told the board that to place a measure on the November 2025 ballot the RTA board would need to finalize the plan by May 2025. Meeting participants noted this schedule is tight and that unresolved funding and project‑delivery decisions could push timing.

Council members asked staff to develop local options and proposals to address the shortfall and stressed that the city should be prepared to propose revenue or scope changes, and to coordinate with regional partners. The mayor said she advocated that RTA use PAG federal and state funds where appropriate and consider scope adjustments, and asked city staff to prepare concepts for how Tucson would move forward to deliver projects promised to voters.

Sources: presentation to mayor and council and RTA board update, March 3–4, 2025.