The unsung heroes of government work are those community members who donate their time and their expertise to sit on the boards and committees that help move policies forward.
At the Regional Transportation Authority, one of those critical groups is the Citizens Accountability for Regional Transportation (CART) Committee.
Last month, a group of some of the CART Committee’s longest-serving members gathered for an appreciation breakfast at Pima Association of Governments.
“The CART Committee does vital work in representing the community’s interests to the RTA and providing independent oversight of the RTA plan,” said PAG/RTA Executive Director Michael J. Ortega, P.E.
Among those CART Committee members who were thanked for their service were:
- Charlene Robinson, 20 years
- M. Joe Yee, 20 years
- Chris Albright, 16 years
- Joseph (Joe) Oliva III, 16 years
- Pamela Traficanti, 16 years
- Fred Narcaroti, 10 years
- William (Bill) Sheldon, 10 years
- Andrew (Andy) Quigley, 7 years
The Committee’s role is to provide added oversight of implementation and fiscal stewardship for the voter-approved $2.67 billion plan. Citizen oversight with quarterly updates and direct reporting to the RTA Board are key to RTA’s bolstered commitment to accountability and transparency with the 2026 voter-approved plan.
CART Committee members will meet quarterly and receive new quarterly analysis reports on project and financial progress, trends or challenges and can provide feedback directly to the board on project delivery or fiscal management of the plan’s public funding source, a countywide half-cent sales tax. This added level of transparency with frequent updates ensures the public will have a clear understanding of progress of RTA plan delivery and any changes in funding requirements.
In June, the RTA board selected members for the new CART Committee. Membership of the CART Committee includes eight jurisdictional representatives appointed by each of the RTA member jurisdictions and seven at-large members appointed by the RTA Board. Four of the at-large members are required to be City of Tucson residents.
Jurisdiction appointments:
- Lisa Hagins, Town of Sahuarita
- Melissa Andrade, Tohono O’odham Nation
- Erin Pazos, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
- Vanessa Gallego, City of Tucson
- Vanessa Cascio, City of South Tucson
- Amanda Wiggins, Town of Marana
- Fred Narcaroti, Town of Oro Valley
- Ana Olivares, Pima County
At-large appointments:
- Danette Bewley
- Kelle Maslyn
- Kyle Snowden
- Chris Albright
- Ryan Mackey
- Jim Olson
- Gene Kunde
The overall membership of the CART Committee is intended to be geographically balanced from across Pima County and includes diverse professional backgrounds with preferred professional expertise in audit, finance, multi-project capital planning, project management, engineering, construction, land use planning, public outreach, public transportation (transit), archaeology, anthropology, habitat conservation/wildlife mitigation, or related project delivery experience.