Tucson Mayor Regina Romero speaks with Federal Transit Regional Administrator Ray Tellis ahead of a press conference on the new investment in transit infrastructure.
Mayor Regina Romero said the projects include installing dozens of shelters at bus stops, adding trees for shade, replacing aging equipment, and increasing accessibility with larger print, Braille and audible information.
“Decarbonizing our bus fleet, greening up our bus stops so that people can use transit more and we can get that toxic, toxic CO2 emissions out of our air is so important, especially for the front lines of climate change,” she said during a Wednesday press conference. “The front lines are those hurt first and worst. Those are seniors, low income communities, communities of color, children, their health and safety is on the line.”
Romero said the city has received nearly $49 million in the last three years to retire diesel buses by 2025 and heat-proof infrastructure within the city.
“It will make a difference in the life and health and the comfort and accessibility of Tucsonans,” she said. “So let's not forget what these funds mean to people and how they connect to the daily lives of our community.”
The funding is part of $1.5 in new grants from the Federal Transit Administration for public transportation projects across the country.
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