Steve Huffman of the Pima County Regional Transportation Authority explained to member that the RTA is in the process of developing projects for the renewal of half-cent sales tax to fund road, pedestrian, multiuse, transportation project throughout the county for the next 20 years.
Rotary Club of Marana Meeting Minutes
August 8, 2023
After morning fellowship and our pledge of allegiance, we were pleased to welcome guest Susan Thorpe. Susan is a retired Yuma County Administrator. She, her husband, and three horses have just moved here from Yuma for cooler weather. Susan has been a Rotarian for 24 years.
Club Business
- Cathy has proposed a club group chat on WhatsApp for easy and immediate communication with each other, when club runner or other communication means aren’t timely enough. Discussion of pros and cons ensued. Those who would like to participate will, though WhatsApp will not take the place of communication via Club Runner.
- Laura reported on our service project supporting the teachers and staff of MCAT. Teachers received from our club a certificate of appreciation and homemade goodies for their 2nd day readying their classes for students. Our club will also be stocking their snacks pantry, used by staff and students, quarterly. Discussion with the MCAT principal yielded a closer connection between our club and the school.
- Principal Denise will communicate school needs as they arise.
- A plan was put forth for our club to honor star students quarterly at the school, rather than remotely.
Program
Steve Huffman, with the Pima County Regional Transit Authority (RTA), presented a program for us today.
Steve is a native of Arizona and 40-year resident of Tucson. At age 16, Steve participated in Rotary Youth Exchange in New Zealand. He credits Rotary for his interest in public service. Steve was in the State Legislature from 1998 to 2006. In 2004 he spearheaded and passed a bill that allowed Pima County to create its own RTA, independent from the legislature. Half of the RTA’s funding comes from a ½ cent Pima county sales tax and the rest by a combination of state and federal funds.
The Pima County RTA model is unique in that because the majority funding is from the citizens, it is allowed to make project decisions independent of the legislature. Decision-making regarding projects is led by a committee of representatives from each of the participating jurisdictions and by a citizen oversight committee. Participating jurisdictions include Marana, South Tucson, Tucson, the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, and the Tohono O’Odham Nation. Jurisdiction power is not dependent on population; one jurisdiction equals one vote. As such transportation projects have been completed in each of the jurisdictions.
The RTA projects considers not only traffic, but the environment, economic vitality, and other concerns. As such it has completed a wide range of projects that include freeway and road enhancements, wildlife corridors, bus pull-outs, street crossings, and bike lanes.
Funding for Next RTA (a continuation of the model) will be a prop initiative on the 2024 ballot, as the current RTA and its ½ cent tax is set to expire in 2026.
Respectfully submitted by Mary Straus