Tucson

Broadway Blvd.

June 9 City Council Meeting: Broadway Coalition Redux #10? (I’ve Lost Count)

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Broadway Blvd.
Campbell and Broadway intersection on the latest Broadway widening project maps.

How wide should Broadway Blvd. be between the Snake Bridge and Country Club Rd? This seems like a never-ending question, but today– June 9– is a big day. Today, the Tucson City Council will vote on moving forward with the Broadway widening project.

You’ll remember that the Broadway Citizens Task Force meetings over the last few months have been filled with drama and intrigue. Originally, powers that be in the city/county wanted to widen Broadway to eight lanes, based upon flawed traffic projections from 20 years ago. Over and over again in meetings and on comment cards, the citizens of Tucson have said that expansion was not necessary because the city didn’t grow east, as projected– besides the fact that expansion to 8 lanes would destroy historic buildings and put small businesses out of business. That 8-lane idea was beaten back, but still the “pro-car” … er… “pro-growth” forces tried to manipulate the process.

Also, on tonight’s agenda is a discussion of the Sun Tran budget and potential route changes.

So– if you support sustainable, historically sensitive growth and transportation, come to today’s Mayor and Council Meeting and show your solidarity with the Broadway Coalition and the Tucson Bus Riders Union. Below are the details about the Broadway widening and about Sun Tran…

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TPP

Earth Day: Stop the TPP (video)

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TPP
Workers around the world have been protesting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Saturday, April 18, 2015, is the day the City of Tucson has chosen to celebrate Earth Day. It is also the Global Day of Action against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This is a particularly fitting bit of serendipity since this year’s Tucson Earth Day has been co-opted by corporations trying to “green wash” their poor environmental records. Booo.

Seriously? Rosemont Mine and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) are two corporate sponsors of Earth Day? Rosemont Mine has been fighting tirelessly to destroy the Scenic Santa Rita Montains and suck our water supply dry. TEP still burns coal and is fighting to suppress solar power conversion.

So– Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) Tucson is combining its presence at the Tucson Earth Day festival with the TPP Global Day of Awareness. It’s a perfect fit. Don’t let dirty corporate donors co-opt an event that was created to honor the Mother Earth and remind us to care for her. Don’t let Raytheon, Rosemont Mine, Materion, Tucson Electric Power, and others “green wash” their poor environmental records with well-placed public relations. (For background, check out this great story in the Weekly by activist James Jordan.)

And, while you’re protesting corporate takeover on a community festival, don’t forget the TPP– the Grand Daddy of corporate takeovers.

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UPDATED: Broadway Widening Redux: March 26 Meeting on ‘Community Alignment’

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The First Assembly of God Church, erected in 1950, is on Broadway Blvd.
The First Assembly of God Church, erected in 1950, is on Broadway Blvd., within the boundaries of the widening project.

The beleaguered Citizens Task Force (CTF) of the Broadway Widening Project revolted at last week’s meeting and didn’t approve the city staff plan for widening Broadway Blvd. because it didn’t match the CTF’s recommendation from December 2014.

Consequently, the CTF will meet again tonight, March 26 at 5:30 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Activity Building, 1200 N. Campbell. Here is the background from Sustainable Tucson. Read about last week’s meeting here and here.

UPDATE FROM THIS MEETING BELOW.

Alternative ‘community alignment’ tonight!

After a revolt by the Broadway Citizens Task Force at their meeting March 19th, an alternative “community-supported” version by respected transportation engineer and transit historian, Gene Caywood will be presented tonight so the City of Tucson can decide the best solution for improving Historic Broadway and the Sunshine Mile.

Come tonight to support the Citizens Task Force complete their three years of work. More background after the jump.

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Broadway Blvd.

Broadway Widening Project: Residents Speak Out Against It… Again

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Broadway Blvd.
Campbell and Broadway intersection on the latest Broadway widening project maps.

An estimated 80 Tucsonans attended the public meeting of the Citizens Task Force (CTF) for the Broadway widening project last week. The main event of the meeting was a potential vote on the latest maps which show a wiggly, six-lane Broadway snaking around and through historic properties and strip malls.

Prior to the meeting, people were asked to submit opinions in writing regarding the latest version of the maps. (Read comments here. See the maps here.) According to the Broadway Coalition’s count, 171 comments raised concerns about widening Broadway to six lanes or were outright opposed to it; four comments were ambivalent; and only 12 were supportive of the city staff-proposed alignments. Attendees have told me that the call to the audience speeches  were eloquent in their opposition to this project. (Unfortunately, no one videotaped the meeting.) The CTF did not approve the controversial maps last week; there will be another meeting this week on March 26.

This has been the history of the project. Over and over again in writing and at public meetings, Tucsonans have said very clearly that they don’t want Broadway expanded to look like the giant suburban intersections on the east side or on the northwest side AND they don’t want to lose the charm of the historic buildings along the Sunshine Mile coming out of downtown. Public comments and a report from the Broadway Coalition after the jump.

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