The Press Room on AZPM hosted by new News Director David Lee held a live audience forum last week, which aired today online about the upcoming March 10, 2026 RTA Next ballot. It is a proposed extension of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) passed in May 2006, for another 20 years to 2046. The original RTA passed a half cents sale tax increase, which continuation is what is being voted on in March’s special election. The Press Room airs on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on AZPM. (Previous AZPM The Press Room host Steve Goldstein has moved to Georgia).
Pro RTA Next on the show are Michael Ortega, new Executive Director and Ted Maxwell, Chair of the AZ Transportation Board and on RTA Board. Ortega was a former City of Tucson Manager for over 8 years. The former RTA Executive Director Farhad Moghimi was fired last year, and has filed a $3.8 lawsuit alleging wrongful termination.
To help interview and discuss the RTA Next are reporters Tim Steller, columnist at AZ Daily Star, Caitlin Schmidt of Tucson Spotlight, and Nick Rommel of AZPM.
This forum even had a 20 minute live audience participation segment at the end, by five citizens, including former State Senator Steve Farley & former City of Tucson planner Albert Elias. And results of the audience poll at the very end.
I just reported earlier this week that Ward 6 Councilwoman Miranda Schubert has urged voters to vote no, please have a read.
Official info (i.e. intended to promote a YES vote) on RTA Next can be found here.
No on RTA Next (citizen’s group in opposition) for a skeptical view of the plan.
Upcoming forums to learn more are coming up next week on Feb. 3 (two virtual forums), and later on Feb. 9 (at Ward 2 Council office), and Feb. 10 online hosted by LWVGT.
Carolyn’s note: The popular 4 mile Sun Link streetcar was one of the programs funded by the original RTA, but I hear from readers about the frustration of the ongoing widening of Grant Rd. Honestly, I’ve been wondering for years why public transport staffers don’t realize that building many more shaded benches throughout the city are important to increase ridership on bus stops in Tucson (esp. during the heat of the SW summers).
Early ballots go out on Feb. 11. Vote wisely on or before March 10, 2026. These will be Propositions 418 and 419 on the ballot.
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Still on the fence re: these two RTA Next propositions? Early ballots have arrived. Another pro/con discussion tonight on The Press Room, with host David Lee and reporters Tim Steller (AZ Daily Star), Joe Ferguson (Tucson Agenda), Paul Ingram (Tucson Sentinel) and Nick Rommel (AZPM). https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021326_press_room/azpm-press-room-disappearance-nancy-guthrie-rtas-future-tucsons-new-police-chief/. Vote on or before March 10, 2026.
Thanks for creating this forum for informing on RTA Next, er RTA More of the Same Desert Sprawl.
You bet Russell. Just posted a forum next week hosted by Living Streets Alliance on Feb. 17.
On Feb. 6 The Press Room posted part 2 of this discussion, on the RTA Next with AZPM host David Lee interviewing UA urban planning associate prof. Arlie Adkins, with reporters Yana Kunichoff of Az Luminaria and Jim Nintzel of Tucson Sentinel. Segment even included a viewer question about road safety and a survey poll by viewers at the end of the discussion, closing on Feb. 9. So join in the poll if you care to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2to9lOitJlk&t=1436s
Early ballots go out soon on Feb. 11.
Also, just noticed that UA Urban Studies Asso. professor Arlie Adkins on the AZPM 2nd show (Feb. 6) published a NO statement against RTA Next in the Voter sample ballot & publicity pamphlet on page 81 and 82. He did state on the AZPM show that he had doubts about this plan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2to9lOitJlk&t=1436s
Well that is disheartening that the League would pull a stunt like that. It makes me wonder if they have been infiltrated? Are they endorsing it now?
no, the LWVGT don’t endorse but they seem to be hosting one-sided forums now. Their candidate forums have been balanced, as I’ve posted most of them here at B4AZ.
Thanks for your notice on this. It is sorta good to know that there was a 20-minute public Q&A on this, but first, there should have been two anti-RTA Next reps on the program to offset the 2 pro-RTA Next reps. That there wasn’t this sort of balance was a disservice to the voters. Second, why was there only 20 minutes given to the public, and much much more given to the pro-RTA Next reps than to the public?
Sure they had 3 media reps there, but again, no balance with 2 anti-RTA Next reps.
I turned this unbalanced PBS viewing off after I realized what was going on. I will look more, for a balanced set of views on this.
Right Russell, there should have been two guests at that AZPM forum arguing against the RTA Next. I understand that Jim Glock, former City of Tucson Transportation head sent a letter to AZPM criticizing that format. He is with the Tucson Deserves Better group opposing RTA Next. I remember him being a promoter of the original RTA back in 2005 and 2006 when the vote was taken in May of that year. I suspect the upcoming forum hosted by LWVGT will be similar, maybe even without the reporters.
Listen to Jim Nintzel’s interview on the Buckmater show on Jan. 30, much more balanced: https://www.buckmastershow.com/2026/01/30/buckmaster-show-1-30-2025-the-debate-on-rta-nex/
Hi Carolyn! When you say ‘similar, maybe even without the reporters,’ Do you mean the League is planning on just having the pro-RTA hacks, ehem, reps? My skepticism is due to the fact that we have full-time promoters getting paid good money to make more money for themselves and their friends. They are getting paid to spin this in the best way possible with massive resources. The opponents have instead, truth on their side, from my perspective. Even two on two is not a fair representation, due to such monied imbalance, but that is the least we can ask for.
The Feb. 10 LWVGT forum lists Michael Ortega (RTA E.D.) and John Bernal as speakers: https://www.lwvtucson.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=726009&item_id=2857484. Bernal has written an op-ed in favor of RTA Next: https://tucson.com/opinion/local/article_cae2911c-2013-11ed-93d7-93ab514d34e0.html in August, 2022. Most of the LWVGT forums are balanced, but this one may be one-sided, again with two Pro-RTA speakers.
Also, when the LWVGT presented a forum on Prop.414 sales tax proposal in 2025, it was one-sided: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyhkrZiUKZM
Jim Nintzel of Tucson Sentinel hosted Bill Buckmaster radio show on Jan. 30 with two guests citing pro and con arguments re: RTA Next on the March 10 special election: https://www.buckmastershow.com/show-archives/. “Josh Von Herrman of the Connect Pima political committee argues in favor of the RTA Next plan, while Ruth Reiman of the Tucson Deserves Better political committee argues against it.”
Coincidentally the RTA Sample ballot & Publicity Pamphlet arrived at our home today via USPS. Arguments for Prop. 418 (and 419) were presented by Regina Romero (Mayor), Councilmembers in Wards 1, 2, 4 and 5, along with Pima County Supervisors Rex Scott (D) and Steve Christy (R).
Arguments against were from Kathleen Winn, Pima County Republican Party and former 3x candidate Janet Wittenbraker (R), along with former employees of Living Streets Alliance. Lots of other paid arguments from citizens and groups in Tucson, pro and con.