City of Tucson Awarded U.S. DOT Reconnecting Communities Grant
Published on February 28, 2023
Mayor Romero brings $900,000 in federal infrastructure investment to connect south side neighborhood needed services and economic opportunity.
Tucson, AZ.—The U.S. Department of Transportation announced today that the City of Tucson was awarded a $900,000 planning grant as part of the first-ever Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. The Atravesando Comunidades grant is part of Mayor Romero's vision to bring federal dollars and infrastructure projects to address historic disinvestment.
The funds will allow the City of Tucson to begin designing a 500-foot pedestrian bridge over Interstate 19 (I-19) to W Nebraska Street. "I am working hard to bring more federal dollars home to Tucson,” said Mayor Regina Romero. “This is a great example of how we are using infrastructure to correct historic harm. I am so grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for selecting Tucson as the only city in Arizona to receive this first-of-its kind award. I want to thank our Congressional Delegation: Congressman Grijalva, and Senators Kelly and Sinema for their support throughout this project," added the Mayor. “We are excited for this opportunity to bridge the gap with communities who have experienced historic disinvestment and to provide connectivity for bikes and pedestrians across the freeway,” said Director of Transportation and Mobility, Samuel Credio P.E. “Safe and accessible connections for people walking and biking is important for all of us.
This bridge will connect our residents to work, education, commerce, parks and more,” said Ward One Council Member Lane Santa Cruz. Currently, access to educational and economic opportunities is severely impacted due to the distance that Tucsonans on the east side of I-19 must travel to access much-needed services on the other side of the freeway. This leaves our seniors and vulnerable populations exposed to Tucson's high temperatures during the summer.
The new bridge will cut down walking time by nearly half. "Together we are connecting a community to services and economic opportunity while centering climate and mobility justice," said the Mayor. "I am excited for this partnership between our Department of Transportation and Mobility and the federal government. Finding federal dollars to fund projects like this are the reason I cultivate relationships with our Congressional delegation and the White House. This is one of the most important ways I can advance the needs of our City," added Romero. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program aims to reconnect communities separated by transportation infrastructure. The separation caused by the construction of I-10 and I-19 in the 1960s are examples.
The Nebraska Street bicycle and pedestrian bridge will provide a way for nonmotorized travelers to cross over I-19 approximately one-half mile between Irvington Road and Drexel Road. The grant will fund pre-construction activities for the Airport Wash Greenway, set for construction in 2026 as part of Proposition 407 – Tucson Delivers Strong Connections. The Nebraska Street bridge will close a critical gap in the planned, and partially funded, Airport Wash Greenway, and will extend the Nebraska Street Bike Boulevard connection between the Chuck Huckelberry Loop.
The Loop is a system of approximately 137 miles of paved, shared-use paths and segments connecting the Cañada del Oro, Rillito, Santa Cruz, and Pantano River Parks with the Julian Wash and Harrison Road Greenway. The east-west bridge will provide more direct access to Tucson Spectrum, Pima Community College Desert Vista Campus, and other key activity centers. The Nebraska Street Bike Boulevard was supported by funds from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), a 2006 voter-approved transportation plan that is funded through a half-cent sales tax. Final design of this bridge is anticipated to be complete by 2026.