City Seeks Input On Improvements To First Avenue

Press release from the City of Tucson:

June 14, 2021

The City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM) is seeking community input on two alternative options to improve First Avenue between Grant Road and River Road. The first alternative consists of keeping First Avenue at its current configuration of four travel lanes, while modernizing the corridor to improve safety, upgrade traffic signals, enhance comfort and access for pedestrians and bicyclists, and install new landscaping. The second alternative consists of widening First Avenue to six-lanes and modernizing the corridor, including traffic signal upgrades, enhanced bike lanes, frequent safe crossings, raised median islands, congestion reduction, continuous sidewalks and enhanced landscaping.

To learn more and to provide feedback on the project alternatives, members of the community can visit http://bit.ly/1stavetucson or text FIRST to (520) 210-5707. DTM will also be holding two Virtual Town Hall events on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 and Thursday, July 15. Visit the project website for times and meeting links.

The First Avenue alternatives were developed through the recently completed First Avenue Needs Assessment. The Needs Assessment was conducted in order to evaluate current corridor deficiencies and needs in preparation for the First Avenue Improvement Project. Public input received during this project phase on the two alternatives will inform which of the two options the city will move forward to project design and construction. Design for this Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) project is anticipated to begin in late 2021 to early 2022 with construction scheduled to begin in 2024/2025.

The RTA, a political subdivision of the state and independently governed, has invested more than $1.2 billion in transportation projects and services to improve mobility, safety, economic vitality and quality of life in the region. The RTA collects a half-cent excise (sales) tax from its special taxing district within Pima County to fund its 20-year regional transportation plan. The plan and tax were approved by voters in May 2006. The First Avenue project is part of the RTA plan and is managed by the City of Tucson. For more information, visit www.RTAmobility.com.

This press release was produced by the City of Tucson. The views expressed here are the author's own.