In alignment with the position of Living Streets Alliance (LSA), Watershed Management Group recommends a no vote on Propositions 418 and 419, which together promote the implementation of the Regional Transportation Authority Next plan. Like LSA, we support sustainable mobility through equitable access to public transportation and safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure, rather than adding to traffic congestion, pollution, the urban heat island effect, and suburban sprawl.
Why are we taking a position on the RTA Next plan? Paved roadways and streets take up at least 40% of our urban and suburban land cover, resulting in hotter temperatures for our neighborhoods, decreased water quality in our rivers, and increased risk of stormwater flooding. Investments in sustainable mobility, by contrast, allow us to better shade and cool our streets, include green infrastructure, foster neighborhood spaces, and provide a safe environment for bikes, pedestrians, and transit riders.
As we highlighted in our Summer 2025 Cool Our Cities 5° newsletter, individuals can significantly reduce their carbon output and help cool our warming planet by choosing public transit, biking, walking, and other sustainable options over driving personal vehicles. However, in order to make these choices feasible on a large scale, we need policies and infrastructure that allow people to safely and conveniently travel in these sustainable ways. Thankfully, well-planned sustainable mobility not only helps create cooling micro-climates but also reduces traffic congestion through all the added community benefits.
Unfortunately, RTA Next disproportionately funds roadway projects over much-needed improvements to public transportation as well as safer biking and walking routes. We also share LSA's concern that RTA Next's voting structure under-represents Tucson by giving it the same number of votes as less populous, more car-dependent communities outside the city.
Tucson’s streets and roads are in need of attention, but not at the expense of safety and long-term sustainability. We recommend learning more from LSA about the RTA Next plan and also voting no on Props 418 and 419.