RTA, City of Tucson celebrate launch of 2026 RTA Plan and Irvington Road repaving project

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The Regional Transportation Authority and City of Tucson kicked off the new voter-approved RTA plan on Aug. 14 to commemorate the start of the first project of the plan. 

 

The event held at Pima Community College East Campus marked the inaugural project of the new RTA plan (RTA Next) and the first in the pavement rehabilitation element of the plan. Pavement rehabilitation was included as a new element in the plan and Irvington Road between Houghton and Kolb roads is the first roadway that will be fully repaved under the new RTA plan. 

 

The new RTA plan reflects community feedback emphasizing that, alongside building new roadways and supporting the regional transit system, repairing and maintaining existing roads is a top priority. Regional Transportation Authority funding for pavement rehabilitation is reserved for the highly traveled arterial and collector roads across the region.

 

Pavement reconstruction projects must have a design life that exceeds 10 years and include mandated ADA curb access ramp and other improvements. RTA jurisdictions will select the eligible roadways within their respective boundaries.

 

Tucson elected officials noted the Irvington Road corridor has presented challenges for many years and required ongoing maintenance when a full pavement rebuild was needed. Officials expressed appreciation to voters for investing in regional road improvements and making the project possible.

 

Pima County voters overwhelmingly approved the RTA plan in March. The ballot contained two questions for voter approval, Prop 418 to approve the plan and Prop 419 to approve the half-cent sales tax to fund the program for 20 years, both passed by roughly 60 percent. 

 

The 20-year plan includes five elements:
 

Roadway (multimodal) Corridor

Pavement rehabilitation

Transit

Safety, ADA and Active Transportation

Environmental

 

Funding breakdown:

 

$1.4 billion (+$741 million in non-RTA funding) - Roadway (Multimodal) Corridors

31 corridor improvement projects including 4 freeway interchanges, roadway lane capacity enhancements, bus pullouts, bike lanes, pedestrian facilities, drainage improvements

$257 million (+$237 million in non-RTA funding) - Roadway project modifications/completion; 7 projects from the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority plan have revised scope descriptions or funding needs that required voter approval

$254.6 million - Safety, ADA and Active Transportation

Intersection enhancement and modernization: Traffic signal technology upgrades, bikeways, sidewalks, greenways

$177.6 million - Pavement Rehabilitation

Curb-to-curb rehabilitation of regional roadway corridors

$50 million - Environmental

Wildlife linkages to reduce vehicle-animal collisions in highly traveled natural wildlife habitat areas

$726 million (+$228 million in non-RTA funding) - Transit Expansions

Expanded services: Weekend and evening bus service, increased bus frequency, paratransit/dial-a-ride, neighborhood shuttles to main bus system, express service to employment centers; high-capacity transit development, streetcar operations, safety and security of the regional transit system

 

Click for the 2026 RTA Plan Project list.

 

The new RTA plan will allow an estimated $125 million per year to be invested in regional transportation improvements, stretching the limited federal, state and local resources for regional projects.

 

The new plan will allow RTA funded-transit services in place for the past two decades to continue without interruption. 

 

An economic analysis conducted while the plan was under development estimated the RTA investment in transportation would help support 48,000 additional jobs across the region over 20 years. This includes the short-term construction jobs to build the projects and long-term sustained jobs following improvements. The overall economic benefit of the plan is estimated at $3.7 billion over 20 years. 

 

About the Regional Transportation Authority

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) helps fund, plan, and build transportation projects across Pima County. Voters approved a 20-year $2.67 billion regional transportation plan on March 10, 2026, along with a half-cent sales tax to fund it. This new plan will invest in roads, public transit, safety improvements, and other transportation projects to help people get around safely, reliably, and efficiently. For more information, visit RTAmobility.com.

Back-to-School: Southwest Gas Partners with Schools, Colleges, and Nonprofits to Open Doors for the Next Generation

September 9, 2026
Programs help students build skills, explore careers, and prepare for the future PHOENIX — Across Southwest Gas’ service territory in Arizona, the company and the Southwest Gas Foundation are partnering with schools, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to support students through essential resources, hands-on learning, safety education, mentorship, scholarships, and career training. “Our employees live and work in the communities we serve, so supporting local schools and programs is personal to us,” said Justin Brown, President and CEO of Southwest Gas. “By working alongside trusted partners, we can help students feel better prepared, explore their interests, and see greater possibilities for their future.” Programs and partnerships across Southwest Gas’ service territory in Arizona include: · Arizona Educational Foundation’s (AEF) teachSTEM Program Since 2024, the Southwest Gas Foundation has supported the AEF’s teachSTEM program. The program provides educators with hands-on STEM training, resources, and mentorship, while inspiring students to explore and pursue STEM careers. The program has reached more than 5,000 students, 78% of whom attend Title I schools. · Energy Safe Kids with the National Energy Foundation (NEF) For nearly 30 years, Southwest Gas has partnered with the NEF to promote energy education and safety awareness in schools. Through the Energy Safe Kids program, elementary and middle school teachers receive curriculum that helps students recognize and respond to a suspected natural gas leak, identify natural gas appliances and pipeline markers, and understand the importance of calling 811 before digging. Last year, 130 schools throughout Southwest Gas’ service territory used the program. · Girls in STEM at the Arizona Science Center The Southwest Gas Foundation has supported the Arizona Science Center’s Girls in STEM program since 2021. This initiative introduces girls in grades 4-8 to science and engineering through hands-on activities and mentorship. These experiences help students explore STEM concepts and envision careers in the field. · Natural Gas Program at Estrella Mountain Community College Southwest Gas partners with Estrella Mountain Community College on a hands-on Natural Gas Program that introduces students to careers in the utility and construction industries. Courses taught by current Southwest Gas employees provide experience with tools and safety practices used in the field. · Share the Spirit Shoes for Kids With the support of a $5,000 contribution from the Southwest Gas Foundation, Southwest Gas employees partnered with the Share the Spirit Foundation to provide 90 students from Title I schools with new shoes and socks during the Shoes for Kids event on August 28. As part of the Company’s volunteer program BLUE (Building Lives Up Everywhere), Southwest Gas employees served as personal shoppers, helping the students select new shoes that fit comfortably and help boost their confidence as they begin the school year. · Summer Internship Program Southwest Gas offers a paid Summer Internship Program for currently enrolled college and university students across the U.S. The 10-week program offers hands-on experience and professional development opportunities across a variety of business functions. Applications are open from January through April, with the program starting in June. Last year, more than 2,900 students from across the country applied for the internship program. Together, these collaborative efforts help open doors for opportunity and reflect Southwest Gas’ long-standing commitment to enriching lives and strengthening communities. For more information about Southwest Gas and its community partnerships, visit www.swgas.com/community. About Southwest Gas Southwest Gas Corporation is a dynamic energy company committed to exceeding the expectations of our over two million customers throughout Arizona, California, and Nevada by providing safe, reliable, and affordable service while pursuing innovative sustainable energy solutions to fuel the growth in its communities. For more information about how Southwest Gas is supporting a sustainable energy future, please visit www.swgas.com. About The Southwest Gas Foundation The Southwest Gas Foundation has spent six decades partnering with 501(c)(3) organizations to open doors of opportunities, provide support in times of need, and create a legacy of impact that benefits generations to come. Funded by shareholders, the Foundation is committed to enriching lives and strengthening communities. For more information, please visit www.swgas.com/community.
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