The region is getting seven new or upgraded active transportation amenities thanks to funding provided by two separate programs overseen by Pima Association of Governments (PAG).
PAG awarded more than $2.8 million in federal Carbon Reduction Program funds to four bicycle and pedestrian projects in three jurisdictions.
PAG worked with the jurisdictional leaders to come up with an approach in terms of the types of projects and other criteria for that process
“We prioritized the funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects that could obligate the funds, basically secure those funds within that fiscal year,” explained PAG Director of Strategic Planning, Programing and Policy Jamie Brown.
The projects also received Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) funds, helping the original RTA plan meet its obligation for bicycle and pedestrian amenities. The additional funds pushed the total funding to over $3 million.
The four projects are the City of Tucson’s Blacklidge Bicycle Blvd., Pima County’s South Houghton Road Multi-Use Path and Palo Verde Road Sidewalks, and San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s San Xavier Road, Little Nogales to I-19 improvements.
Two other projects will be fully funded using Regional Transportation Alternatives Grants (RATG). A third project will be partially funded using the grants that come from federal transportation alternatives funds that flow through PAG, and federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG).
In the end the City of Tucson’s Midtown Bicycle Boulevards and the Kolb Irvington Shared Use Path were fully funded, while Pima County’s Valencia Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement project was partially funded. All three projects also received RTA funds as a partial match, which was required by the grants. The federal grants totaled $7.5 million and the RTA is contributing just over $450,000.
Like the projects funded with CRP funds, these projects also go towards fulfilling the original RTA plan’s commitment to bicycle and pedestrian amenities.
