1st Avenue: River Road to Grant Road Project Website

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Read our Frequently Asked Questions and view public meeting materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click a question below to learn more.

The Rillito Bridge was constructed in 1961 and is currently at 80% of its intended 75-year lifespan. A limited structural assessment was conducted as part of the Needs Assessment and no cracking of spalling indicative of structural issues were observed. While the bridge is structurally sound, it no longer meets the needs of the traveling public due to age. If the bridge is not replaced as part of the 1st Avenue project, it could be decades before another funding source is identified, during which time the condition of the structure will continue to deteriorate.

The 1st Avenue Project is primarily funded by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) through a 1/2-cent regional sales tax with contributions from the City of Tucson development impact fees.

The 1st Avenue project was included in the RTA plan approximately 20 years ago, at a time when the region was anticipating a high rate of traffic growth on the corridor. In the years since the passage of the RTA plan, traffic volumes on 1st Avenue have actually decreased. Given the changing traffic conditions on 1st Avenue, the City of Tucson re-evaluated the corridor through the Needs Assessment, with the data indicating the additional vehicle capacity is not needed now or over the longer term. Other significant needs remain on the corridor, which will be addressed through the project.

We do not expect to revisit the decision to advance the 4-lane project alternative, as there has already been an extensive alternatives analysis conducted for the project through the Needs Assessment. Both the data and residents supported the 4-lane improvement. This alternative was supported and approved by both Tucson's Mayor and Council and the RTA Board.

MainStreet Business Assistance Program

The MainStreet Business Assistance Program is a free regional construction mitigation program focused on minimizing impacts to businesses caused by transportation improvement projects.

Our free services are part of the of the Regional Transportation Authority's (RTA) 20-year regional transportation plan approved by voters in May of 2006, and are made available to any business owner located within a quarter-mile of the project.

To learn more about the MainStreet Business Assistance Program, please take a moment and click on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) page on our website.

Our experienced team is here to help your business successfully through the Grant Road Improvement Project and we look forward to working with you to accomplish that goal.

Please don't hesitate to contact me to discuss how our free assistance program can benefit your business.

Sincerely,
Britton Dornquast
MainStreet Program Manager

Main Street - Assisting Small Business

1 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 401
Tucson, AZ 85701

Britton Dornquast
Program Manager
520.838.4352
bdornquast@mainstreetinfo.org

Jan Waukon
Business Outreach Liaison
520.229.9331
grant@mainstreetinfo.org

Project Update

Community Outreach

Phase 1 of community outreach began in Fall 2024. It included a survey seeking community input on priorities for the 1st Avenue corridor. Here's a few key points of what we heard:

  • The priorities for the community include safety for all users and improving sidewalks and bike lanes for cyclists and pedestrians.
  • When asked to rank four project considerations in order of importance, here's how respondents answered:
    Final Results
    Categories Average weight Rank
    Bicycle / pedestrian safety and comfort 3.23 1
    Minimizing project costs 1.91 4
    Minimizing impacts on private property and businesses 2.22 3
    Reducing traffic congestion and travel time 2.64 2
  • When asked what challenges they have as a corridor user, respondents were given the following eight options and asked to select all that apply. Here's how they answered:
    Final Results
    • Safety for all roadway users 400
    • Road condition 327
    • Walkability and sidewalk condition 300
    • Traffic 290
    • Bikeability and bike lane condition 275
    • Shade / landscaping 270
    • Bus service / stop 158
    • Other 84
  • When asked which ONE challenge they cared about solving most, here's how respondents answered:
    Final Results
    • Safety for all roadway users 216
    • Bikeability and bike lane condition 92
    • Road condition 79
    • Traffic 66
    • Walkability and sidewalk condition 49
    • Other 29
    • Shade / landscaping 24
    • Bus service / stop 16
  • When asked to select the top five things they want to make better on the corridor, here's how respondents answered:
    Final Results

    What are the top five things you want to make better on the corridor?

    • Better bike lanes (including protected bike lanes) 13%
    • Improvements at major (signalized) intersections for people walking and biking 13%
    • Comfortable and accessible sidewalks 13%
    • More trees and landscaping 12%
    • More places to safely cross the street 11%
    • Road condition 11%
    • Better lighting 8%
    • Improved bus service and stops 8%
    • Better drainage 5%
    • More turn lanes at intersections 5%
    • Other 2%

  • When asked to select the top five things they want to make better on the corridor, here's how respondents answered:

    • Concerns with people crossing the street outside of a marked crosswalk in the corridor
    • Safety along the corridor
    • Buses stopping traffic and the need for bus pullouts
    • Better bicycle lanes
    • Sidewalks
    • More lighting

More information on outreach efforts, survey responses, and comments received can be found in our Public Outreach Phase 1 Memo and January 2025 1st Avenue Citizens' Corridor Planning Task Force presentation.

Public Meeting Materials

Missed a Public Meeting? Materials will be posted here.

1st Avenue Citizens' Corridor Planning Task Force

Agendas, Legal Action Reports, and Minutes are a major component of the Open Meeting Law and are posted online after each meeting.

Meeting Agendas

Legal Action Reports

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Presentations

Other Project Resources