The Pima County Department of Transportation (PCDOT) will be improving a 1.3 -mile segment of Valencia Road, from Mission Road to Camino de La Tierra. The Valencia Road Improvement Project will widen the existing four lane roadway to six lanes, provide additional drainage features, and provide bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

Project Area

The 1.3-mile project area includes three signalized and several unsignalized intersections. It is part of a main transportation corridor serving the greater southwest Tucson community and two Native American communities. It is a rapidly growing commercial and retail district for underserved and historically disadvantaged communities.

Improvements and Benefits

Project investments address multiple transportation challenges: alleviating traffic congestion and ensuring safety, mobility, and accessibility for diverse users. Specific benefits include:

• Providing new sheltered transit stops, bike lanes, and sidewalks to a multi-modal community
• Increasing travel lanes along a critical freight corridor
• Improving drainage and integrating sustainable features
• Adding public art and native plant landscape
• Restoring, adding, and modernizing transportation infrastructure
• Supporting the area economy by improving freight mobility and access to national parks and other tourist destinations
• Creating jobs for Tribal communities and nearby low-income populations

Funding

This project is funded from a $20 million Federal grant from the Rebuilding America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Act, funding from the recently approved Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) ballot measure extension, Regional Transportation Alternative Grants (RTAG) funds, and Impact Fee funding from nearby developments.

Current Project Status

The project design is completed. A Project Citizen Advisory Commission including 11 representatives from two tribes, residents, and other key stakeholders was formed and has been providing feedback. Public input has been received at Open House events.