Local governments are looking for ways to skim gas-tax money from street-construction projects to pay for much needed maintenance.
The issue of potholes and deteriorating roads was put on hold when the recession began a few years ago, and costs to make repairs are rising rapidly as conditions continue to worsen.
The cost to bring all city streets up to excellent condition would be $875 million, and the cost to bring county roads up to good condition would be $240 million or more.
City Councilman Steve Kozachik has proposed spending some Regional Transportation Authority money from sales taxes on street maintenance. But a Pima Association of Governments committee said Wednesday it would be better to spend money from state and federal gas taxes on those projects.
Some state gas-tax money has been carried forward in PAG's budget for several years, said Jim DeGrood, PAG transportation services director. In some cases, the same recession that made money tight for local government budgets brought favorable construction prices for road-building projects, meaning there are leftover dollars from some under-budget projects.
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Local governments might be "missing opportunities to put that money to work," DeGrood told the PAG Management Committee.
The group, made up of local government leaders, decided Transportation Department directors should look for projects that likely will cost less than the budgeted amounts, projects that were completed under budget with funds left over, and projects that can wait for a few years.
Once that money is identified, transportation directors may suggest specific maintenance and repair projects to spend it on, the group decided. There's $5 million of PAG money earmarked for a Grant Road project that's also in the RTA plan, for example, so those funds could be redirected.
Though the study is just getting started, other projects mentioned as potential fund sources include:
• A $58 million widening of West Magee, which appears to be coming in under-budget.
• Widening of West Tangerine Road, a $10 million project now not scheduled to start for five years, so spending could be delayed.
Transportation planners still need to verify if funds could be available before any projects are actually tapped.
But DeGrood said most project estimates date to 2005, when costs were much higher, so many of them may have funding to share.
"There's a dire need right now," said Jim Stahle, Sahuarita town manager. Spending the money on maintenance makes sense and doesn't mean construction projects can't get done in the future, he told the committee.
Tucson's interim transportation director, Tony Paez, told the committee that finding and spending gas-tax money on maintenance is a good investment, "because the longer we wait, the more expensive it's going to get."
The cost to chip-seal one mile of a two-lane road is about $42,200, while full reconstruction of one mile costs $563,200, according to Pima County figures.
The PAG could consider plans for specific projects later this month.
To report potholes
Within city limits, call 791-3154.
In the county, call 740-2639.
Local share of state gas taxes to rise
The newly adopted state budget includes a nearly $10.5 million increase in state gas-tax (Highway User Revenue Fund) money for local jurisdictions over this year's budget. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
• Tucson: $4.5 million increase
• Pima County: $5.6 million increase
• Oro Valley: $278,000 increase
• Marana: $238,000 increase
• Sahuarita: $138,000 increase
• South Tucson: $39,000 increase
• PAG regional funds: $345,000 decrease
Source: Pima Association of Governments
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@azstarnet.com or 573-4346.
