Capital Improvement Program Budget Highlights

Fiscal Year 2022/23

Overview

In order to provide our local community and its citizens with critical services and shared public spaces, such as, safe roads, topnotch public recreation areas and facilities, and world class public safety; the City of Tucson maintains and executes a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP is a community planning and fiscal management tool used to coordinate the location, timing and financing of necessary capital improvements throughout the entirety of the City.


A capital improvement in this context is defined as a physical expenditure that has a cost of $100,000 or more. Typical items that can be found in a CIP include but are not limited to items such as land, buildings, public infrastructure, and equipment. Based largely on the level of expense and complexity associated with these types of projects the City’s CIP designed to cover a five-year timeframe.

Program Highlights

Some of the programs and projects included in the current and ongoing City CIP include the following:

*For further details please refer to the CIP book here

Tucson Delivers/Proposition 101 - Safer City and Better Streets

In May of 2017, City of Tucson voters approved a five-year, half-cent sales tax to fund public safety capital needs and road repairs. With regard to public safety equipment, this program has delivered over 244 marked police vehicles, 16 police fleet motorcycles, 23 fire apparatus, 490 sets of firefighters turn out gear, and much more. Additionally, this program is also facilitating the complete rebuild of 9 fire stations, the remodeling of 11 fire stations, and the creation of a joint police and fire public safety complex.


With regard to creating better streets for our community, this program has improved 155 lane miles of City arterial roads, with an expectation to do an additional 176 lane miles over the next 12 months. Additionally, 154 lane miles of City local roads have been improved, and an additional 71 lane miles are expected to be completed over the next 12 months.


Tucson Delivers/Proposition 407- Great Parks and Strong Connections

In November of 2018, City of Tucson voters approved a bond package for capital improvements specifically geared towards the improvement of City parks amenities and connections. Park related projects include improvements to playgrounds, sports fields, pools, splash pads, and recreation centers. Connection projects include the creation of new greenways and shared-use paths, safety and walkability projects related to pedestrian use, as well as the creation of bicycle boulevards all throughout the community.



Reid Park Zoo Quality of Life Tax/Propositions 202 & 203

In February of 2018, City of Tucson voters approved a tenth-of-a-cent sales tax to fund operations and maintenance needs, as well as capital improvements at the City’s Gene Reid Park Zoo. Accordingly, the City has begun to update Zoo facilities and to modernize Zoo standards. Additionally, alligator, jaguar, grizzly bear, and andean bear habitats have been improved and four new species (meerkats, goats, squirrel monkeys, and wild dogs) have been deliver to the Zoo.


Downtown Links

In December 2006, the Downtown Links Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) approved a roadway alignment north of the Union Pacific railroad that connects with 6th Street at 7th Avenue. Four CAC meetings and two public meetings were held between January 1 and June 30, 2008 to discuss and comment on the planned roadway alignment. The CAC endorsed the Curved 6th Street Alignment (3.d.) and the Mayor and Council voted 6-0 to approve this alignment on July 8, 2008. The three major benefits of this alignment include:




  • Railroad-related improvements – eliminating an at-grade crossing and creating a downtown no-whistle zone.
  • New roadway drainage systems and a major reconstruction of the Tucson Arroyo – to remove parts of downtown and area neighborhoods from the 100-year flood plain.
  • More multi-modal connections – construction of a new pedestrian and bike deck, connections to new and existing multi-use paths.

Neighborhoods & Mobility

HAWK: Pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs) or “HAWKs” provide pedestrians a safer crossing alternative than traditional crosswalks, especially in mid-block locations that are heavily travelled by pedestrians. PHBs have been shown to significantly reduce pedestrian crashes. Because the devices are only activated when a pedestrian is present, drivers experience minimal delays and the potential for rear end collisions is reduced.

Streets: The community benefits from roadway improvement projects in many ways. Resurfacing gives the benefit of smoother travel for bikes and automobiles while new multi-modal and automobile lanes, upgraded signal systems, and stormwater improvements make overall travel safer and more convenient.

Parks: The Parks and Recreation Department's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is based on the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space component of Plan Tucson, the adopted City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Ten-Year Strategic Service Plan, and Mayor and Council direction. The CIP implements Mayor and Council policy by developing facilities that provide for family, youth, and senior adult recreation, while supporting inner-city revitalization, public art, and using arid and semi-arid landscaping wherever possible to conserve water.

Mass Transit: The Public Transit Program replaces and upgrades Sun Tran and Sun Van fleet vehicles and constructs facilities to support transit operations, including Park-and-Ride facilities, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access improvements, and security improvements. Projects are primarily funded with Mass Transit Funds, Federal Transit Administration funding, and transit revenue. Sun Tran's acquisition of 40-foot buses include cleaner technology that operate on electric and CNG.

Proposition 411: Half-Cent Sales Extension for Streets

The City of Tucson asked voters to extend the existing temporary half-cent sales tax for an additional 10 years. This extension will not increase the City’s current sales tax rate of 2.6%. The funds collected through the half-cent sales tax over the 10-year period will be used solely for neighborhood street improvements and systemwide street safety projects.


The estimated sales tax revenue over this 10-year period is projected to be $740 million. Of that estimated funding, 80%, or $590 million, will be dedicated to improving the condition of every City neighborhood street; and 20%, or $150 million, will be dedicated to safe street improvements that benefit all users and modes. Safety improvements can include projects such as street lighting, sidewalks, bicycle network enhancements, traffic signal technology upgrades, and traffic-calming features.