Local opinion: Fact-checking RTA Next open house presentation

I recently attended an RTA Next open house in central Tucson. It was one of many scheduled across the county to gather voter input on the RTA Next plan. RTA staff did not allow questions to be asked after the presentation. I imagine they didn’t want the attendees to be influenced by potential negative comments and critical questions. There is much to be learned from other’s comments and questions, so here’s my own Q&A with fact-checking the RTA Next open house presentation.

RTA staff and board call RTA Next a regional plan. False. The plan is a collection of local roadway projects in search of funding. Each jurisdiction submitted its own project list with little to no collaboration across jurisdictions. Just look at the map of all the roadway projects and you’ll see that most of the projects are contained in a single jurisdiction. Then there’s fake regionalism where money is given to smaller communities to win their votes: South Tucson gets $77M, Green Valley gets $5.8M, and Vail gets $157M for a 3.5-mile roadway. Projects were added in to make sure Tucson gets its fair share. The only regional components are transit and wildlife linkages.

RTA staff says that two-thirds of all funding for transportation improvements in Pima County comes from the RTA. False. According to the long-range regional transportation plan written by PAG, RTA accounts for only 22.5% of all transportation funding for the region.

The RTA presenter claims if RTA Next fails and RTA1 ends in June 2026, two-thirds of all transportation funding will end. That is like an individual losing two-thirds of their income, making it very difficult to pay bills and support the household. False. First of all, only 22% of transportation funding will end. Second, all the roadway projects are new projects, new roads, new widening, new modernization. These new RTA Next projects just won’t be built, so no family trip to Europe in 2026. Third, the existing roadway network will continue to be maintained with local funding, so the household utility and food bills will be paid.

The four deferred projects from RTA 1 are deferred because of scope changes and increases in costs. False. These four projects have been deferred by the RTA board because there is no money in RTA 1 to build them. RTA 1 will run out of money and several projects may be on the chopping block without additional money. There is no funding for these four RTA 1 projects if RTA Next is not approved.

Accountability and oversight is important; there is a “citizen oversight committee that makes sure we are doing what we promised the voters.” False. Yes, there is a citizens oversight committee (CART) of which I am a member. The CART’s mission is to ensure that the RTA plan is implemented as promised, but the CART does no such thing. The CART has never made one recommendation to the RTA board, nor has the board ever requested the CART’s input. The RTA board has made several major changes to the RTA 1 plan and shifted money from one category to another and the CART did nothing to protect the plan promised to the voters. The two CART meetings required each year are choreographed by the RTA staff, and the RTA annual report is rubber-stamped by the CART executive committee.

I have seen over the last 10 years how candidates, legislators, government officials, and PACs misrepresent the facts and change the truth to gain our votes. The scammers send us fake emails and text messages. We have to be very cautious about what we believe to be true and accurate. Beware of what the RTA staff and board is trying to sell you. Vote no on RTA Next and take back the half-cent RTA tax for local projects and local control.