Pima Association of Governments—Regional Transportation Authority Plan

In 2006, voters in Pima County approved a half-cent sales tax to fund regional roadway, safety, environmental, economic vitality, and transit improvements. Although actual revenues to date have been lower than projected, these sales tax revenues are combined with additional local jurisdictional contributions to fund the estimated $2.4 billion Regional Transportation Authority Plan in Pima County (RTA Plan). The audit found that the RTA Plan partners (the RTA, Pima County, cities, towns, and tribal jurisdictions) have established a robust framework and oversight structure to help ensure the RTA Plan is implemented as envisioned. At the RTA Plan’s halfway mark, the RTA Plan partners are generally delivering the projects as envisioned within budget and on schedule, employing typical project management and construction practices, and spending funds in accordance with applicable Arizona Revised Statutes and RTA Plan provisions. However, the RTA Plan had not established specific performance targets and did not have baseline data for targets, thus precluding auditors’ assessment of performance related to congestion, mobility, and connectivity. Recently established performance targets should allow for future assessments of performance against targets. In addition, auditors identified a few opportunities to improve effectiveness and accountability related to target-setting, performance-delivery measurement, performance reporting, and revenue estimates.