RTA Next plan set to pass, Tucson roads & business owners to see major changes | Decision 2026

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – A major victory for supporters of RTA Next, a more than $2.5 billion plan that will shape the future of transportation in Pima County over the next 20 years.

Unofficial results from Wednesday night reveal that 61% of voters approved Proposition 418, while nearly 60% backed Proposition 419. 

Melodie Gilbertson, owner of Tucson Community Connections, a learning center for people with disabilities on Grant Road near Palo Verde. 

“The way it’s affected the business is the census. The enrollment has gone down over the last 2 years and so I’m currently under enrollment. I lost money last year,” Gilbertson said.

Gilbertson is very familiar with the road work on Grant and the impact on her business.

“When it was in front of us it was so overstimulating cause I work with folks who have disabilities. So people with autism and such that’s very hard to deal with all day long. All day long banging and hitting and that type of stuff,” Gilbertson said.

During a news conference, Mayor Regina Romero expressed gratitude for the voters’ support. “Projects that were promised in 2006 are going to be moved. And for me our department of transportation and mobility has to move expeditiously,” Romero said.

The Grant Road widening project, which was left unfinished in RTA 1, is a priority on the agenda. The community looks forward to seeing the progress as the RTA Next plan is implemented.

For more details on the plan, click here.