U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood scrawled his signature across the bottom of a $63 million federal stimulus check Thursday, bringing the crowd gathered at downtown's Historic Train Depot to its feet.
The money will go to build four miles of track for Tucson's modern-streetcar project, from the University Medical Center area through the University of Arizona and downtown to a site west of Interstate 10.
Tucson competed for the TIGER grant (for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) in a field of 1,400 projects totaling $60 billion for a slice of a $1.5 billion pot. Grant recipients were announced Wednesday.
"The American Recovery and Revitalization Act is alive and well in the city of Tucson," Mayor Bob Walkup said as he introduced LaHood. Feb. 17 marked the one-year anniversary of the act, of which TIGER grants are a part.
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Fifty-one projects nationwide received funding through the TIGER grants. LaHood called the streetcar project "one of the best" and said it would be a boon to the community.
"The streetcar is a great way for Tucson to attract business," he said. "If you build it, they will come."
Project construction is expected to create 1,600 jobs, starting late this year.
Tucsonan John Crosby, who attended the announcement, said he saw firsthand the benefit that light-rail projects bring to a community when former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura brought light rail to Minneapolis. Crosby, a life coach, said that project was "imminently successful" and spurred development all along the rail corridor.
"This moves us into the future," Crosby said. "It moves us where we need to be as a livable, sustainable city." He added that the time is right for the streetcar, because plenty of people "are ready to use something other than their vehicles if they have the option."
In addition to the $63 million TIGER grant, the Regional Transportation Authority will chip in $88 million to go with a $6 million federal grant the city received earlier.
Restaurateur Kwang An said he "can guarantee" that downtown is "going to be successful because of the rail" and that he is excited to contribute to development in the area. "Now I feel very comfortable to come open up a restaurant downtown," he said.
U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Tucson, said the modern streetcar "makes investment (in downtown) easier. The risk has been dramatically eliminated.
"I think the potential, short term and long term, is unbelievable," he said.
Stephen Moffett of Garfield Traub, the developer for the city's proposed downtown hotel, said the streetcar will make life easier for visitors to the city and that Tucson residents will "grow to love" it.
"The streetcar in and of itself won't drive (hotel) occupancy, but it helps," he said. "Now visitors are going to have a means to get around. It's a great amenity."
Clayton R. Norman is a University of Arizona journalism student apprenticing at the Star. Contact him at 573-4244 or at starapprentice@azstarnet.com
