Tim Steller’s column: Revamp of ‘Sunshine Mile’ late, but result should be great | Subscriber

Just getting this far was the consequence of an arduous, agonizing system, the type that Tucson is infamous for, but that, in the conclude, could make a powerful end result.

The city to start with accepted widening Broadway in 1989 — 33 several years ago. For the pursuing 17 a long time, home entrepreneurs ended up in limbo, not sure no matter if their land or structures would be purchased out for the widening. The stretch slowly withered from the uncertainty.

Eventually in 2006, certainty arrived in the type of voter acceptance of the Regional Transportation Authority and its countywide, fifty percent-cent revenue tax. The widening of Broadway, from 4 lanes and a middle turning lane to 8 lanes, was authorized with the RTA plan.

But neighbors objected to earning the highway that broad — it would have been an excessive 150 ft for pedestrians to cross. Councilman Steve Kozachik, who continue to represents the ward, agreed and pushed to slim the undertaking.

In 2014, the Regional Transportation Authority Board at last agreed. A long time additional of conferences, hearings, scheduling and style iterations ensued. That resulted in the recent design and style: The road curves gradually, north and south, in an effort and hard work that spared dozens of historic structures but also lower out a lot of parking lots.