Southbound Granada Avenue Closed:
Cushing Street to I-10 Frontage Road 

Waterline and related-utility work for the Modern Streetcar project has begun, following the completion of the 57^th Annual Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase.

Southbound Granada Avenue between Cushing Street and the Interstate 10 Frontage Road will be closed to all traffic until mid-May 2011. Additionally, left turn movements from Cushing Street to Granada Avenue will be prohibited. Those wishing to access the westbound frontage road should use 22^nd Street or Congress Street as an alternate.

KE&G Construction, Inc., under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), will be constructing waterlines and transmission mains, furnishing and installing valves boxes and covers, air release valves, steel casings corrosion test stations, and replacing concrete curb, sidewalks, curb access ramps, and driveways. Crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday; however, traffic control will remain in place 24 hours.

For more information on the Modern Streetcar project, visit the web page or call (520) 624-5656.

The Federal Transit Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the streetcar project at the end of January, giving the green light to begin construction and access to $63 million in federal grant money.

In the coming weeks, the City of Tucson and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) will be going out to bid for the Cushing Street Bridge over the Santa Cruz River in the western segment of the modern streetcar project.

The Modern Streetcar Project is co-managed by the City and the RTA. The modern streetcar project is part of the RTA’s multi-modal plan approved by Pima County voters in 2006. The 3.9-mile streetcar project will connect The University of Arizona campus, Downtown Tucson, and other activity centers, as well as boost economic development and be an important part of a regional transit system.

Construction Set to Begin after Federal Transit Administration
Issues Finding of No Significant Impact

The City of Tucson has received the green light to begin construction on the Modern Streetcar Project and begin spending the $63 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant money. The announcement means the City of Tucson and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) will be going to bid within the next several weeks on four separate contracts for the project, one of which is for the Cushing Street Bridge over the Santa Cruz River.

“This is another major milestone toward realizing completion of this important project, and I congratulate the City of Tucson on the tremendous job it’s done moving the streetcar forward, “ said Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva. “The sooner Tucson enjoys twenty-first century public transportation, the sooner we’ll see boosts to our economy and quality of life. I have supported the streetcar from day one, and I’m proud to say today marks another in a long line of successes for our entire metro community.”

Said Pia Carusone, chief of staff for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords: “Operation of the modern streetcar will provide a tremendous benefit to the economy, the environment and the quality of life in the Tucson area. With today’s announcement, that time now is much closer to becoming a reality.”

The City of Tucson qualified for the TIGER funding, which was established to create jobs as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, in February 2010. Pre-construction utility work on the Modern Streetcar route has started. Tucson Electric Power (TEP) crews recently completed work along the Santa Cruz River, west of I-10. Water line system improvement work underneath the Cushing Street Overpass and the westbound frontage road is slated to begin after the 57^th Annual Tucson Gem, Fossil and Mineral Show. Local contractor KE&G Construction Co. is under contract with the City of Tucson for this work.

“Today we have achieved a big victory for both the region’s multi-modal transportation system and our region’s economy,” said Mayor Bob Walkup. “The Modern Streetcar will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of transportation in Tucson, while adding new strength to our ability to recruit and expand businesses in Southern Arizona.”

More than 125,000 people live, work and reside along the Modern Streetcar route. The Tucson Modern Streetcar will be a 3.9-mile fixed rail transit system that will connect the Arizona Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona, University Main Gate Square, 4^th Avenue Shopping District, Downtown Tucson and the Mercado District development area.

“This announcement is monumental and a game changer for the University of Arizona, the City of Tucson and the entire community,” said UA President Robert Shelton. “This next level of approval is phenomenal because of the magnitude of this project. The University of Arizona continues to provide unqualified support for the Modern Streetcar in Tucson. We look forward to our faculty, staff and students riding our American-made streetcars.”

In the announcement, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the Tucson Urban Corridor Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), concluding that the construction and operation of the modern streetcar project would cause no significant environmental effects.

“The modern streetcar project has the potential to transform our community as it has in other regions of the country. Now that construction will be able to move forward, we anticipate many good things to follow including new developments, reduced congestion in downtown Tucson, and easier connections among the activity centers and users along the streetcar route,” said RTA Executive Director Gary Hayes. “We are in a milestone stage for this project and we have gotten this far due to the strong partnership we have built between the Regional Transportation Authority and the City of Tucson. We will continue to work together as we prepare to build this transcendental community project and deliver it to our citizens.”

An April 2009 Value Engineering (VE) study recommended adding the Cushing Street Bridge and several track realignments, among other changes, triggering this recent supplemental environmental assessment. The Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment document was available for public review and comment online and as a hard copy until December 2, 2010, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) outreach guidelines.

The project is co-managed by the City of Tucson and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The modern streetcar project is part of the RTA’s multi-modal plan approved by Pima County voters in 2006. For more information on the modern streetcar project, visit http://www.tucsonstreetcar.com or call (520) 624-5656.

This is a continuing series of construction alerts that will be issued throughout the construction of the Campbell Avenue and Fort Lowell Road Intersection Improvement Project. These alerts will announce construction, detour and closure information as it effects traffic. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are asked to obey all posted speed limit signs within the construction area and be alert for construction crews and personnel working in the area.

On Thursday morning, January 6, 2011, Falcone Brothers and Associates, under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), will begin paving the base course of asphalt on the north side lanes of Ft. Lowell Road and the east side lanes of Campbell Avenue. Paving is scheduled to begin after 9 a.m. due to temperature requirements and will continue until approximately 4 p.m.

This work is scheduled to take approximately three days to complete. The final course of pavement will begin approximately one week after the base course is complete and will take approximately 3 days to complete. There will be no additional traffic restrictions during the paving process; however, there may be minor delays as paving equipment moves through the area. Business access will be available at all times.

During the project, at least one lane of travel on Campbell and one lane of travel on Fort Lowell will be maintained. For the safety of the traveling public, the travel restrictions will be in place for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Access to all businesses within the construction area will be maintained.

The $2 million project, funded with voter-approved Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) funds, is scheduled to be complete in February 2011. The intersection will be reconstructed to improve the pavement condition and to add dedicated right turn lanes and bus pullouts. Additional improvements include upgraded traffic signals, street lights, new water lines and new drainage. New curbs and sidewalks will be installed including ADA compliant access

While funded through the RTA, the project is being managed by TDOT. The $2.1 billion RTA plan will be implemented through 2026. Details about the full plan are available at http://www.rtamobility.com/. The RTA has a nine-member board with representatives from local, state and tribal governments.

The public is invited to an informational open house for the Grant Road Improvement Plan, on Wednesday, November 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at College Place, 1601 N. Oracle Road.

The open house is being hosted by the Grant Road Improvement Plan Citizens Task Force. Interested members of the public will be able to view a wide array of information about the Grant Road Improvement Plan and have questions answered by members of the Planning Team. Information presented will include:

• Updates on the first Grant Road improvement project – the intersection at Grant and Oracle – scheduled to begin construction in late 2011
• Preliminary design plans for Grant Road from Oracle to Swan
• Land use planning schedule and information
• Streetscape and landscape plans
• Pedestrian, bicycle and transit features
• The public art master plan for the entire roadway – Oracle to Swan
• Early information on public art for the Grant – Oracle Project
• The reconstruction schedule for Grant Road

Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) MainStreet Business Assistance representatives will be available to answer questions and provide information to businesses affected by the construction.

The Grant Road Improvement Plan is the largest of the RTA’s voter-approved projects and will improve five miles of the roadway – from Oracle Road to Swan Road – over the next 15 years.

The Grant Road Improvement Plan is a project of the Regional Transportation Authority. The voter-approved $2.1 billion RTA plan will be implemented through 2026. Details about the full plan are available at http://www.rtamobility.com/. The Regional Transportation Authority has a nine-member board with representation from local, state, and tribal governments. This project will be managed by the City of Tucson.

The City of Tucson has received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to replace about 10 bio-diesel buses with vehicles utilizing hybrid technology.

This announcement comes on the heels of a $5 million grant awarded to the City in October from DOT’s State of Good Repair program to replace approximately 15 buses.

The funds are made available through DOT under the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Clean Fuels Bus and Bus Facilities Program. This program helps achieve the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and carbon monoxide, and supports emerging clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies for transit buses. Sun Tran plans to replace buses in its fleet that are up to 16 years old.  According to the FTA, the expected useful lifespan of a transit bus is 12 years.

Grant recipients are required by the FTA to provide local matching funds of up to 20 percent of the project. Local match for this new bus purchase is made possible through funding from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The RTA transit element includes funds to expand Sun Tran’s fleet, as well as replace aging buses.

“This funding could not have been secured without the support of United States Representatives Gabrielle Giffords and Raúl Grijalva,” stated Sun Tran General Manager Katrina Heineking. “In addition, the RTA’s continued belief in the importance of regional transit and commitment of the match funds also helped make this grant award a reality.”

Sun Tran will work with the City of Tucson to purchase new buses. Delivery is expected to occur in approximately 18 months.

Sun Tran is Tucson’s award winning regional public transportation system, which is operated by Professional Transit Management, Ltd. (PTM), and under contract with the City. With more than 600 employees, 40 fixed routes and a fleet of 240 buses, Sun Tran’s mission is to provide safe, reliable, well maintained and cost effective public transportation with a team of innovative and diverse employees, dedicated to our customers, the environment and the community.

This is a continuing series of construction alerts that will be issued throughout the construction of the Campbell Avenue and Fort Lowell Road Intersection Improvement Project. These alerts will announce construction, detour and closure information as it affects traffic. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are asked to obey all posted speed limit signs within the construction area and be alert for construction crews and personnel working in the area.

On Monday morning, October 11, 2010, work crews will begin milling (removing asphalt) the center turn lane on Campbell Avenue from Lind Road to Hedrick Drive. This milling work is scheduled to begin at 3 a.m. and be complete by 6 a.m.

After the milling is complete, crews will begin reconstructing the subgrade in preparation to repave the center turn lane and the west side of Campbell Avenue. This work is scheduled to be complete in about two weeks.

During this work, the Campbell Avenue and Fort Lowell Road intersection traffic signals will be adjusted to a four-way stop with one lane of travel in each direction and left turns in all four directions. During morning and afternoon peak travel hours – 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Tucson Police officers will be at the intersection to direct motorists for improved traffic flow.

Falcone Brothers and Associates, under contract with the Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), are constructing the project, Typical work hours for the project are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., with occasional night work from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

During the project, at least one lane of travel on Campbell Avenue and one lane of travel on Fort Lowell Road will be maintained, with center turn lanes. For the safety of the traveling public, the travel restrictions will be in place for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Access to all businesses within the construction area will be maintained.

The $2 million project, funded with voter-approved Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) funds, is scheduled to be complete in February 2011. The intersection will be reconstructed to improve the pavement condition and to add dedicated right turn lanes and bus pullouts. Additional improvements include upgraded traffic signals, street lights, new water lines and new drainage. New curbs and sidewalks will be installed including ADA compliant access

While funded through the RTA, the project is being managed by TDOT. The $2.1 billion RTA plan will be implemented through 2026. Details about the full plan are available online.  The RTA has a nine-member board with representatives from local, state and tribal governments.

Ward 2 City Council Member Paul Cunningham, the Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) will celebrate the start of the Speedway Boulevard – Camino Seco to Houghton Road widening project with a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, September 23, 2010.

The event begins at 9 a.m. and will take place in front of Calvary Chapel of Tucson, on the northeast corner of Speedway and Camino Seco.

The $13.9 million RTA-funded project consists of widening Speedway Boulevard from Camino Seco to Houghton Road to provide two through lanes in each direction with a 20-ft wide center landscaped median. Concrete curbs, new rubberized asphalt paving, six-foot wide sidewalks, bike lanes, and frontage roads will be provided.

The improved roadway will include new drainage improvements. These include storm drains, catch basins, and reinforced concrete box culvert crossings to control flooding and provide all-weather crossing capability.

This project also will include new traffic signals at Harrison Road and Houghton Road. Signalized pedestrian crossings are planned at Schrader Lane and Igo Way. Street lighting for driver safety and neighborhood security will be included as well.

The project will be landscaped and include public art. The contractor is NAC Construction Company. The work will take approximately 24 months to complete.

The voter-approved, $2.1 billion RTA plan will be implemented through 2026. The RTA has a nine-member board with representatives from local, state and tribal governments. While funded through the RTA, the above projects will be managed by TDOT.

The Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT) keeps Tucson moving smoothly and safely. The Department’s nearly 250 employees oversee the maintenance and reconstruction of nearly 1,900 miles of streets and are responsible for hundreds of drainage structures, public art pieces, street lights and signs, and traffic signs and signals in Tucson. TDOT also operates the City’s transit services Sun Tran and Sun Van.