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Tucson’s $80 million Budget for Sustainability and Resilience
Adopting the Tucson Resilient Together (TRT) plan gives our City a new way to view and track progress towards better climate resilience. This improved frame of reference and focus on sustainability extends into the City’s annual budgeting process and reports.
In the past, many City departments and partnerships worked to improve our environment and sustainability. The funding for these efforts was part of numerous department annual operating or capital budgets, and was difficult to call out among all of the other spending of the City. The implementation of TRT is an opportunity to track the City’s fiscal plans and spending around the five central Climate Action areas: Governance and Leadership, Community Resilience, Resource Recovery and Management, Energy, and Transportation and Land Use.
The City of Tucson’s Adopted Budget for the coming year includes funding for over 60 TRT action items within these five Climate Action areas. From large to small, and from Leadership to Land Use, the City of Tucson has identified over $80 million of local, state, and federal money this year to be put to use in advancing the plan.
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By the Dollars - Efforts in all areas of the Plan:
Here is the breakdown of the approved funding this year, by Climate Action area. During the first year, the City is able to fund progress in all areas of the plan. The majority of funding budgeted for Transportation and Land Use activities ($60 million), followed by Community Resilience ($11.6 million), Energy ($4.9 million), Resource Recovery and Management ($2.3 million), and Governance and Leadership ($1 million).
By the Dollars - Resilient Top Ten:
With over 60 activities of the plan funded this year, there are many efforts that will be improving community resilience. The top eleven (there was a tie for 10th place!) funded plan activities are below:
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Transportation & Land Use
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Implement bicycle, pedestrian, and other zero emission mobility projects identified in Move Tucson to create a transportation network aligned with the Complete Streets approach
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Transportation & Land Use
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Promote walking, biking, and rolling by creating attractive and universally accessible street environments
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Transportation & Land Use
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Create a funding and purchase plan for battery electric buses, paratransit vehicles, and other zero emission vehicles across all public transportation services
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Transportation & Land Use
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Increase safety for all road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists, by eliminating lanes on wide roads and creating public space, walkways, enhanced crossings and signals, and protected bike lanes
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Install and maintain additional shade canopies, shade trees, splash pads, drinking water fountains and/or water bottle filling stations in areas of greatest need
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Identify community-wide opportunities for nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding, such as land or watershed restoration projects
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Advance the Tucson Million Trees initiative with a continued focus on native and contextually appropriate tree species, tree equity, and water conservation around Tucson
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Implement ongoing weatherization and commissioning (building tune-ups) | Incl. R-22
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Transportation & Land Use
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Implement a fleet management plan that mandates zero-emission vehicles and implements fleet efficiency evaluations to ensure that the City does not own or use more vehicles than it needs
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Prioritize food waste reduction via food loss prevention, food rescue/donation, and organics composting
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$1.4 Million, grant pending
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Transportation & Land Use
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In partnership with Sun Link and Sun Tran, identify options for streetcar, bus rapid transit (BRT) and/or local bus access to underserved communities
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Recent Good News
The majority of the funding this year will come from local sources. However, federal and state grants are a valuable and growing piece of the funding puzzle.
At the time the City’s budget was approved, a number of grant opportunities had been identified but were uncertain. Since that time, Department of Energy’s Resilient and Efficient Building Codes program has awarded the City’s Southwest Collaborative application $3.5 million. This funds a collective effort that includes local jurisdictions, state agencies, researchers, educational and training organizations, industry and technical partners, and community-based organizations – to advance highly efficient and resilient construction practices that address affordability and regional characteristics.
The City has also been notified of an award for the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant in partnership with Pima County. The grant totals $1 Million and is shared between the two agencies.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funds for HVAC replacements in the amount of $500,000 have been secured and will be received this year.
For next year, the City was recently notified that, in addition to the $12.1M the City was awarded for Low or No Emissions public transportation vehicles in the current year, they are to receive an additional $21.5 M from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) to purchase 39 low emission (CNG) busses to replace the City’s remaining diesel-fuel busses. The switch will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2,480 metric tons.
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How are we doing?
2023 Climate Action measurements from the City of Tucson.
Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Updates.
On April 18, 2023, Mayor and Council approved the initial implementation plan. We are pleased to share progress updates on a few notable climate action items. This update is not exclusive, and additional action items are underway.
YSEALI Fellows joining the Climate Action Team for September
The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP) is a fantastic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The YSEALI program places accomplished young professionals with non-profit, public, or private sector organizations to promote mutual understanding, enhance Fellows’ leadership and professional skills, and build lasting and sustainable partnerships between emerging leaders in Southeast Asia and the United States. The City of Tucson will host two YSEALI Fellows this fall to aid in the implementation of Tucson Resilient Together.
Comment on the Sun Tran Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA)
The Climate Action Team encourages all community members to review and provide comments on the proposed Sun Tran Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA). There are several ways to review the proposed changes to the Sun Tran COA on the website below or at an in-person event. Changes to the COA include combined and extended Sun Tran routes, increased service frequency, and discontinuing of certain routes.
Check this out.
Actions from around the community contributing to Tucson's climate resilience.
Join Sustainable Tucson, Watershed Management Group, and The Loft Cinema on Saturday, 16 September 2023, for some or all of our day-long celebration of water in the desert – our most precious resource.
Climate Resilience around the Community.
 Navigating tree watering schedules and Tucson summers can be difficult. Tucson Water helps break it down.
General watering guidelines for May through September are:
- Trees: 1.5 hours, 1-2 times/week
- Shrubs: 1 hour, 2-4 times/week
- Grass: 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times/week
Also click on “Water by the Month” for details on how to customize an efficient watering schedule based on your landscape’s soil and plant type.
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Join the Dodge Flower Neighborhood, Ward 3, the City of Tucson, and Tucson Clean and Beautiful for a cleanup event on September 16th, 8am-10am. Find our staff setup at a check-in table ready with supplies. Cleanup activities include picking up litter. Meeting location TBD. |
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