Tucson voters have approved a measure to use sales tax revenue to fund a sweeping road improvement project over the next several years.
Proposition 411 was passed by more than 70% in a special election in Tucson on Tuesday. The original half-cent sales tax was approved by voters in 2017 to upgrade city streets and road safety. It was set to expire this year, but voters approved a 10-year extension.
Revenue is expected to generate some $740 million for the project over the next decade. City officials say the great majority of that money will go directly toward improving all neighborhood streets within city limits. The remaining 20% will go toward making improvements on things like street lighting, sidewalks and bike lanes.
City officials say money generated by the sales tax can only be used for the purposes already laid out. The project will be overseen by two independent commissions of Tucson citizens, who will monitor spending and report back to Mayor Regina Romero and the Tucson City Council.
