KEEP OUR LOCAL STREETS LOCAL!

Without ever contacting the residents or neighborhoods directly impacted, the Tucson Transportation department decided to change several Local streets to Major streets in the update to the Major Streets and Routes Plan (MS&RP).  

We, the undersigned, want Limberlost Dr and Mountain Ave north of Roger Rd to remain as Local streets.

The move to upgrade Limberlost and Mountain to Collector street status was decided based solely on traffic volumes with compete disregard for the residential nature along almost all of their length.  No one from the City reached out to those living along them to discuss the changes or to listen to concerns.  Staff looked at numbers on spreadsheets instead of considering what is actually built on the ground and who will be most affected by the proposed upgrade.

This is more of a development proposal than it is a consideration of transportation needs.  

• Designation of Limberlost and Mountain as Collector streets will completely surround the Campus Agricultural Center (the Farm) west of Campbell with major streets.  That will add pressure on the State to sell off the Farm for development.  This is a motive that cannot be ignored in the decision to upgrade these two Local streets.  The City backed off of designating the Farm as Historic Landmark and now it wants to add a new development pressure on those 60 acres of historic farmland.

The designation of Limberlost and Mountain (north of Roger) to Collector streets will serve no transportation purpose except to align with federal guidelines.  Instead, the upgrade will open parcels to more intense development and increase traffic volumes, without any added benefit to the surrounding neighborhoods.  In the future, we encourage Transportation staff to work with the affected residents if they determine there is a real transportation need to upgrade Local streets.  

We ask that the Mayor and Council remove the upgrades proposed for Limberlost Dr and Mountain Ave north of Roger Rd and retain their Local street status in this update of the MS&RP.