As work on previous Proposition 409-funded projects will soon draw to a close, and a new round of projects begins, here is additional information in the Proposition 101 Update. ATB continues to advocate for sustained funding for both new construction and maintenance of our community’s transportation and utility infrastructure that improves our quality of life and is moving our economy every day!
ADOSH Silica Presentation
An ADOSH presentation regarding respirable crystalline silica is now available, to help educate construction industry members regarding this federal rule and its implications in Arizona.
March 2018 ATB Dinner Slides
Presentation slides are now available for the ATB March 2018 Dinner for presentations on ARTA/Federal Issues, I-11 Corridor Process, and ADOT Statewide Update.
Pima County Bid Opening Soon
Please check the Pima County Procurement website on Thursday, June 7, 2018 for an anticipated bid package to be released. This project is located in Pima County Districts 1, 3, and 4 and consists of various neighborhood roads indicated in the Regional Local Road Repair Program (RLRRP) Package No. 7. Project List and Location Maps available on the Pima County Procurement website at:
http://www.pima.gov/procure/ifbrfp-dc.htm
Bid Due Date/Time: June 27, 2018, at or before 2:00 PM Local Tucson Time, Pima County Procurement Department, 130 W. Congress Street, 3rd Floor, Tucson, AZ.
Direct questions in writing to:
Anthony V. Schiavone, Procurement Officer
Pima County Procurement Department
Fax: 520-724-4434 / E-mail: anthony.schiavone@pima.gov
SB 1147 Updates
SB 1147/HB2162: With the closure of the Arizona Legislative session, this bill did not pass to allow Pima and Maricopa counties to take steps to renew their respective RTAs and for other rural counties to consider establishing an RTA, and related county excise (sales) tax. However, the State Legislature did pass, and Governor Ducey signed, legislation for the ADOT Director to establish a public safety fee largely to fund Highway Patrol related expenses, freeing up funds in the budget to stop HURF sweeps. Keep an eye out for similar legislation to return with the next legislative session for enabling RTAs to be established and continued.
Rio Nuevo Extension Signed
Rio Nuevo: Last week Governor Doug Ducey signed legislation extending the Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District through 2035. Sponsored by State Rep. Mark Finchem, this bill passed both the AZ House and Senate with large majorities. Stay tuned for further updates as additional revitalization efforts and related infrastructure continue to be planned and built in the heart of Tucson.
ATB Updates
This past week has been a memorable one, with a great turnout this past Friday to thank Ramon for his seven years of service to ATB and the community! Earlier last week we had an outstanding Associates meeting – and we also learned that our own Associates chair, Alex Collins, is departing our board as he will soon transfer to a differente CalPortland position serving the Pacific Northwest. Please join me in congratulating Alex on his promotion!
As we continue in the Executive Director transition period, Ramon and I also met with Ted from SALC, and saw some of our members at the Southern Arizona Procurement Fair! I also took part in the periodic SABC Legislative Update meeting with various community leaders held at the Tucson Metro Chamber. We have so many great partner groups throughout the region, advocating alongside us for better infrastructure that will keep moving our economy.
I also attended the Marana Chamber of Commerce, with NAI Horizon providing a detailed presentation representatives on the state of the region’s real estate market; in short, there is demand for large Class A commercial office space, with very little readily available as companies grow or are considering relocating to the area. High demand continues for homes, as well as quality apartments, with the lowest vacancy rates and highest rent increases in recent memory.
We also learned of the passing of Marana Town Councilmember Carol McGorray. Thank you Councilmember McGorray for your 17 years of service on the Town council, and your broader civic involvement through Marana Dove Mountain Rotary and many other community groups. You will be deeply missed.
Thank you to our member companies for your hard work every day in creating and maintaining safe, attractive, well-built infrastructure for all to enjoy. I’d like to stop by and see your efforts in progress or help you celebrate milestones! Call me at (520) 623-0444 or email me at bcordova@movingoureconomy.org and we can schedule a time to meet up at your office or job site. Or, join me and be part of our ATB delegation to DC for the ARTBA fly-in coming up May 14-17!
Message from the New Executive Director
Thank you, ATB members for your warm welcome over the past week as I have met many of you at the golf tournament meeting, regional meeting, member dniner, and a few individual visits out and about, or even those of you that have stopped by the office! With help from Ramon and Yvette, I have a great start at getting to know or be reacquainted with many of our members.
Ramon and I also met with several of our community’s leaders including Jim DeGrood at PAG, Carmine DeBonis at Pima County Administrator’s Office, Ana Olivares, Director at Pima County DOT, and just yesterday Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild. More meetings with our region’s elected officials, department leaders and community leaders are being planned.
As some of you know, I am a lifelong Arizona resident, growing up in central Phoenix before moving to Tucson more than 20 years ago to attend the University of Arizona – GO CATS! I have always been fascinated by our state’s transportation and utility infrastructure, having grown up in a time when our communities experienced rapid population growth, and taking that exciting first drive with my family through the tunnel that finally connected I-10 coast to coast in the early 90s. Locally, I remember first visiting the University of Arizona as a high school student in the mid-90s, soon after Speedway was reconstructed in the campus area. I am pleased that it has recently been repaved and returns to being one of our community’s well-built, well-maintained gateways.
For those of you I have not met yet, I look forward to seeing you at upcoming ATB events! Call me at (520) 623-0444 or email me at bcordova@movingoureconomy.org and we can schedule a time to meet up too. If I’m not out and about, I also welcome seeing people right here at the office if you want to stop by! Or, join me and be part of our ATB delegation to DC for the ARTBA fly-in coming up in mid-May!
March Membership Dinner Recap
Thank you to the 89 attendees at the March 14, 2018 membership dinner! We heard updates from Richard Juliano, Senior Vice President at ARTBA regarding Federal level funding and policy, Jeremy Moore from ADOT regarding many ongoing and planned highway improvements in our region, and Jay Van Echo regarding the I-11 Corridor project. This was also Ramon’s last membership dinner as Executive Director as he moves to the private sector and ATB welcomed B.J. Cordova as the new Executive Director!
