LLegislative Updates
Businesses count on the efficient movement of people and goods. The Regional Transportation Authority’s (RTA) 20-year regional transportation plan improved regional connectivity and kept businesses in the greater Tucson region humming over the last two decades. The next RTA plan will offer a $2.4 billion regional funding solution to keep our transportation infrastructure functioning well into the future to support economic development and regional vitality.
This critical funding source is under consideration in the RTA Next plan, which is being prepared for Pima County voters. We’re asking if your organization can share information to help educate your employees about RTA Next now, as the plan and tax are tentatively to go on the ballot in March 2026.
RTA Next is the people’s plan. It’s a 20-year plan to continue the work of the RTA which has delivered nearly 1,000 regional transportation projects including roadway widenings, expanded evening and weekend transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, bus pullouts, traffic signal technology and more from its 2006 voter-approved plan.
A Once-in-20-Years Opportunity to Shape Regional Transportation
Most of us will never get the chance to decide how to spend billions, but with the next Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) plan, you can help decide how a $2.46 billion investment can be used to improve your daily travel, quality of life, and our region’s economy.
The current RTA plan and half-cent sales tax—approved by voters nearly two decades ago and set to expire in mid-2026—have resulted in more than 1,000 transportation improvements across our region, ranging from new roadways and expanded transit to safety, signal technology, and bike/pedestrian projects. The effects of these investments can be seen and felt all around us, keeping our region moving, supporting the creation of an estimated 40,000 permanent jobs, and generating $2 billion in additional private and public investment.
Now, it’s time to plan what’s next.
The RTA has been hard at work for more than six years developing a new 20-year plan and tax proposal tentatively expected to be on the March 2026 ballot. Public feedback on the plan, “RTA Next,” is essential—both now, as the plan is being finalized, and later at the ballot box.
Keep in mind that RTA dollars have been providing about two-thirds of the region’s transportation funding annually since 2006, filling critical gaps left by stagnant federal and state gas taxes and by other transportation funding sources. And unlike other funding sources, RTA dollars are flexible and locally controlled—meaning you decide the priorities. Visit RTAnext.com to:
Your voice can help shape how we keep the region moving, connected, and economically competitive.
Please visit the Arizona Legislature's Request to Speak page stay informed and participate in upcoming meetings. You find the latest agendas and sign up to voice your opinion by following link: [Arizona Legislature Request to Speak](https://apps.azleg.gov/RequestToSpeakUpcomingAgendas). Your input is valuable, and we encourage you to engage in the legislative process!
Legislative Bill tracking
It’s essential to recognize how the decisions made by our elected officials influence both your business operations and daily life. Understanding the key issues and exercising your right to vote is crucial. To support your engagement in the electoral process, we provide valuable tools and resources designed to guide you in making informed decisions. Together, let’s ensure your voice heard in shaping the future.
Below, you can access the bills that ACEC Arizona will be watching; this list will be updated weekly.