FAQs
The following information is available to address questions we often hear about the Regional Transportation Authority and the RTA Next process to develop a new 20-year regional transportation plan.
The Regional Transportation Authority was established in 2004 by the state Legislature and is a state-established taxing subdivision within the boundaries of Pima County. The RTA Board, an independent governing body, establishes a 20-year regional transportation plan and is authorized to seek a countywide sales tax to fund it. RTA members include local, county, state and tribal governments. In 2006, voters approved a $2.1 billion plan and half-cent sales tax. The plan and tax will sunset in June 2026. The RTA Board has approved a new 20-year plan for voter consideration in March 2026. The $2.67 billion RTA Next plan – in today’s dollars – includes funding for continued roadway, transit, bike, pedestrian and other transportation improvement projects for the greater Tucson region.
The RTA offers the region a flexible and reliable funding source which is dedicated to regional transportation priorities based on public input and feedback.
- Of the 35 roadway projects in the original RTA plan, 28 are either completed or construction is underway or will begin work on final phases by the end of June 2026. The original plan and tax sunset on June 30, 2026.
- RTA reserves from tax revenues already collected for these projects and RTA Board-approved regional funds will be used to complete these projects.
- The RTA is collaborating with its members to identify opportunities to accelerate project delivery.
- Some projects were redesigned to meet current traffic demands, due to slower population growth during and after the 2008 Great Recession. Five projects revised the project scope descriptions that were approved by voters and all projects have seen cost increases, which require voter approval. Additional funding needed is partially due to recent spikes in inflation, significantly increasing labor and project construction material costs. These projects are scheduled to start construction in the first five-year period of the RTA Next plan.
- To view details of the seven projects, please see the RTA Next plan proposed for voter consideration.
- RTA tax revenues were significantly impacted during and after the 2008 Great Recession. Revenues collected were much lower than anticipated, leaving a significant funding gap.
- The sales tax revenue forecast in 2006 anticipated revenues of over $2.1 billion at the conclusion of fiscal year 2026. The tax revenues now are expected to reach $1.75 billion over the 20-year period resulting in $350 million less than originally anticipated.
- In addition, the region did not grow (about 300,00 residents fewer than demographers estimated) as quickly as expected following the recession, which further impacted revenue collections.
- Online buying grew in popularity, making up more than 10% of sales, but online purchases were not legally taxable until 2019. In addition, the Arizona Department of Revenues started charging a new annual fee to the RTA for processing RTA revenues.
- The RTA Board used regional funds (from federal and state gas taxes) since 2019 on RTA projects to help close the funding gap, but recent inflationary spikes following the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic swings further affected the funding gap due to a slowdown in revenue collections and project construction and labor cost increases.
- The RTA used revised population growth figures that assume lower rates of population increase during the RTA Next tax collection period to determine projected revenues.
- Projected RTA sales tax revenues were calculated based on a “pessimistic” or conservative forecast to account for potential economic slowdowns in the future. The pessimistic forecast matches the RTA Next budget of $2.67 billion.
State-established taxing subdivisions, such as the Regional Transportation Authority, dedicate funding to long-term regional transportation improvements. The RTA Board is required by law to develop a plan for a 20-year schedule and can seek voter approval of a regional sales tax to fund the plan.
The current Regional Transportation Authority plan and countywide half-cent sales tax end in June 2026. Annual average revenue collections total more than $126 million toward regional transportation improvements.
Although population growth levels in the greater Tucson region have declined since the 2008 Great Recession, the region continues to grow at an annual average rate of about .55%. To meet the demands of our region’s changing demographics and to expand or maintain a quality transportation network, another RTA-funded plan will help to address needed improvements over the next 20 years.
The 2006 plan provided over 1,000 much-needed transportation enhancements across the region, including new and expanded transit services. Still, the aging transportation system needs ongoing improvements to meet current and future user demands.
- A regional approach to improving the transportation network benefits the region as a whole and not just one jurisdiction or another. The RTA collaborates with its member jurisdictions to find integrated transportation solutions to maximize efficiency and save costs. Improvements to reduce congestion and emissions result in a cleaner environment as well.
- A half-cent RTA sales tax provides nearly two-thirds of the transportation funding annually for the region compared to combined federal and state funding sources available to the region.
- RTA sales tax: $126+ million (Source: ADOR/RTA)
- Federal funding to region: $21 million (Source: STBG*)
- State funding to region: $33 million (Source: HURF**)
*STBG – Surface Transportation Block Grant funding provides flexible funding that may be used by states and localities for projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance on any federal-aid highway, bridge and tunnel projects on any public road, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital projects, including intercity bus terminals.
**HURF – Highway User Revenue Fund, a per-gallon tax on gasoline and other fuel sales, collected statewide and distributed based on formulas set in state statutes to cities, towns, counties and state agencies
- Ongoing transportation improvements help meet the needs of a growing population.
- 1,072,000 (current population of Pima County)
- 1,500,000 by 2050 (Current estimate by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity)
Over the next 30 years, regional transportation funding needs are anticipated to total $32.4 billion. Recent transportation plans (Pima Association of Governments’ RMAP show that projected transportation revenues (without continued RTA funding) available over the next 25 years within Pima County will total approximately $12.8 billion. If the RTA plan and sales tax are approved, the tax is anticipated to generate an additional $2.67 billion over 20 years, and this represents a significant amount of money that can be applied toward reducing that funding gap. Even with the RTA sales tax contribution, the region faces a remaining funding shortfall of $17 billion.
| $32.4 billion | Overall regional transportation funding need through 2045 |
| $2.67 billion | New RTA Next plan and half-cent sales tax revenues over 20 years – anticipated RTA contribution, if voter approved |
| $12.8 billion | Available regional revenues from state and federal sources through 2045 – anticipated regional funding contribution through 2045 |
| $17 billion | Remaining revenue needed for regional transportation improvements – long-term funding gap through 2045 |
The Regional Transportation Authority will present two voter initiatives to consider:
1) A 20-year regional transportation plan that defines major elements, project costs and corridor construction start schedules.
2) A half-cent sales tax to fund the plan.
Both initiatives must pass for the plan to be implemented.
By law, the RTA sales tax must be spent as defined by a voter-approved regional transportation plan.
If any future changes to the approved plan come with substantial added cost, state law requires the RTA to bring changes back to the voters for consideration.
RTA funds cannot be used for routine roadway maintenance such as fixing potholes. A portion of the RTA Next plan, however, will be used for arterial and collector roadway pavement rehabilitation to rebuild roads and reduce costly long-term maintenance costs.
The RTA Next plan includes $177.6 million to improve arterial and collector roads. Pavement rehabilitation work under this element of the RTA Next plan must be designed to have a 10-year lifespan and include any mandated ADA improvements.
- The RTA’s countywide, half-cent sales tax applies to retail items, contracting, utilities, food service, and rent on personal property.
- Grocery sales (except in South Tucson) and pharmaceutical drug sales are exempt.
- The sales tax is collected in Pima County, which serves as the boundary for the RTA taxing subdivision.
- Pima County residents and tourists/visitors alike will pay the tax no matter where they shop.
The cost for a single person per month would be $5.72 and per year $68.73. This is based on monthly cost of living expenses of $1,145.60 (excluding rent) multiplied by .005 (Source: numbeo.com, September 2025).
For every $2 spent, you pay 1 penny. If a family of four spends $60 at a restaurant, for example, the RTA tax would be an additional 30 cents. Since the current RTA sales tax will expire on March 31, 2026, if a new plan is approved, and a half-cent sales tax to fund the RTA Next plan will go into effect April 1, 2026, there will be no tax increase or change in tax rate.
An increase in the state gas tax is not likely due to already high gas prices and the need for a two-thirds majority approval by the Arizona Legislature. A local gas tax is not an option because it is prohibited by the Arizona Constitution. Even if it were possible to increase the gas tax, gas taxes cannot be used for transit.
Counties and municipalities with property taxing authority can fund transportation and other improvements through debt financing, which allows for borrowing money that is paid with a secondary property tax. However, this option requires the payment of interest to retire the debt, which can add significantly to overall costs. The RTA can bond as well, if needed to advance project implementation.
To ensure that everyone can access and use reliable transportation in the region, the RTA’s development process for the next 20-year plan started with RTA partner jurisdictions submitting their recommended projects for plan consideration. RTA members include Pima County, the Cities of South Tucson and Tucson, Towns of Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation and Arizona Department of Transportation.
- Jurisdictions submitted projects that address each community’s needs.
- Reviews of each roadway corridor project were done to determine how they fit into the larger transportation network to improve overall connectivity and mobility in the region.
- Plan projects are spread across the region and transcend jurisdictional boundaries to benefit transportation users regionwide.
- An improved regional transportation network benefits transportation users in many ways:
- Increased mobility and connectivity
- Better roads that move traffic more efficiently across the region
- A variety of transit options from which to choose
- More alternative transportation choices such as new bike lanes, sidewalks, greenways which support cleaner air
- Safety
- Additional pedestrian and cyclist amenities will make streets safer
- Modernized intersections improve safety for all users
- Signalized pedestrian/bike crossings and bus pullouts
- Getting people to work safely and efficiently also helps promote employment opportunities for existing and future populations
- Economic opportunity
- Much of the planning and construction will be completed by local companies, which allows the money spent on improvements to stay in the community and create or maintain jobs
- Communities will benefit from a better transportation system, which helps attract new residential and commercial investment, such as business expansions and relocations, creating new jobs and income
- Increased mobility and connectivity
Comment
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