RTA Next: How It Benefits Oro Valley's Transportation

Does RTA Next Benefit Oro Valley? A Local Look at Propositions 418 and 419

Oro Valley voters will see two questions on their March 2026 ballot that may shape local travel for decades:
Proposition 418 (the proposed RTA Next transportation plan) and
Proposition 419 (the funding mechanism, a continuation of a half-cent sales tax for transportation).
It’s a regional plan, but the practical question for many residents is simple: does it help Oro Valley?

The short answer: yes, there are direct, Oro Valley-area projects and services tied to the plan, plus indirect benefits
that come from coordinating major routes across city limits. Below is a straightforward breakdown of what’s on the table and what it could
mean for daily commutes, school drop-offs, shopping trips, and getting to medical care.

What RTA Next Is (and Why It’s on the Ballot)

The Regional Transportation Authority’s current 20-year plan is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026.
RTA Next is the proposed replacement plan covering 2026–2046, paired with continued funding through the existing
transportation excise (sales) tax. Pima County’s election materials note that voters must approve both ballot questions
for the plan and the tax to move forward.

Ballots are mailed countywide, and all ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
The official RTA Next election page also encourages voters to mail ballots back early because postmarks do not count.

Direct Benefits in Oro Valley: Road Projects Residents Actually Use

Oro Valley’s election information page lists multiple RTA Next roadway improvements that would affect travel in and around town. For many
residents, these corridors are part of the “everyday network” used to reach jobs, schools, and essential services.

Lambert Lane widening (Rancho Sonora to Thornydale)
Shannon Road improvements (Lambert to Tangerine, including Naranja to Ironwood Ridge High School)
Thornydale Road widening (Cortaro to Tangerine)
Orange Grove Road widening (La Cholla to Oracle)
Ina Road improvements (I-10 to Thornydale)

Even if you don’t drive these routes daily, they connect to the larger grid used by commuters and weekend travelers. When major corridors
get safer and more reliable, it can reduce spillover traffic on neighborhood streets and ease bottlenecks that frustrate drivers at peak hours.

Direct Benefits in Oro Valley: Sun Shuttle Dial-a-Ride Funding

One of the clearest Oro Valley-specific points is transit support. The Town’s election information states that the RTA funds
about 75% to 90% of Oro Valley’s transit system, Sun Shuttle Dial-a-Ride.
That matters for residents who rely on scheduled rides to medical appointments, work, shopping, or other necessities.

In a community where many people want the option to “age in place,” dial-a-ride is more than a convenience. It’s often the difference
between staying independent and feeling isolated. Families also feel the ripple effect: when reliable transportation exists for seniors
and people with disabilities, caregivers and relatives aren’t forced to fill every trip gap themselves.

Regional Benefits: Why “Countywide” Still Matters to Oro Valley

Oro Valley doesn’t operate in a bubble. Many residents commute to employment centers outside town, and many workers commute into the broader
north-side area. A coordinated regional plan can help connect routes and funding in a way that city-by-city projects can’t always match.

Pima County describes RTA Next as a long-term regional package that builds on the prior voter-approved plan. The official RTA Next site
frames the proposal as a regionwide effort to improve mobility and quality of life. The point isn’t that every project sits within Oro Valley
boundaries—it’s that the network Oro Valley residents depend on often crosses them.

What It Costs: The Tax Rate and the Tradeoffs

A common concern is cost. The Oro Valley page and county materials describe the funding as a continuation of the existing
half-cent sales tax that has supported the current RTA program since voters approved it in 2006.
Supporters argue that a regional approach helps keep planning coordinated and preserves buying power for large projects; skeptics may worry
about the overall price tag or whether projects match their priorities.

If you’re deciding how to vote, it can help to look at two questions separately: (1) whether the project list and program elements match the
region’s needs, and (2) whether the dedicated funding mechanism is the best way to pay for them over 20 years. Either way, the decision is local:
it affects commutes, safety, and the basic question of how Oro Valley and Pima County maintain and upgrade infrastructure as the region grows.

Does RTA Next Benefit Oro Valley? Projects, Transit, Costs.