RTA Next: Shaping Transportation in Ward 3 and Beyond
The Regional Transportation Authority Board has approved a 20-year transportation plan and Pima County voters will decide on the $2.67 billion plan on March 10, 2026. This plan will shape how we move around the region for decades to come, funding roadway enhancements, transit services, bikeways, and more.
What’s Coming to Ward 3
Ward 3 roadway projects in the RTA Next plan include:
- Silverbell Road: Camino del Cerro to Ina Road (Modified scope, final phase)
- First Avenue: Orange Grove Road to Ina Road (Modified scope, whole project)
- Grant Road: Fremont Ave to Sparkman Blvd (final phase)
- Prince Road: Romero Road to Country Club Road
The above projects are all scheduled for the first and second periods of the program, meaning within the first ten years of the program. Grant Road will get completed, but it’s important to note the final phase is part of RTA Next. Complete details of the plan including the project descriptions can be viewed here.
Why It Matters
Beyond Ward 3, the RTA brings regional benefits. Over the last 20 years, the RTA has helped establish the SunLink streetcar downtown, provided funding for transit including the dial-a-ride and paratransit services, the Loop bike path, and road improvements to help us all get where we need to go throughout the region.
Get Involved
Ward 3 will be hosting an RTA Next presentation followed by Q&A next month on January 22nd at the Ward 3 office at 1510 Grant Road. Doors open at 5:30pm with the presentation beginning at 5:45pm.
In the meantime, visit rtanext.com to learn more, sign up for their newsletter, list to their RTA Delivers Podcast - Regional Transportation Authority of Pima County and stay informed ahead of the important March 2026 decision – it’s up to you.
Winter Warming Center in Ward 3 From 5 - 9 AM
Where: Inside the Ward 3 Community Room at 1510 E. Grant Road.
When: Monday through Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., through March 13.
What: Guests are provided a simple breakfast, coffee, a warm indoor space, and on-site resource navigation.
Pets are welcome.
Friends Of Ward 3 Is Asking For Donations to Help Unsheltered Kids
Senior Olympics Registration
Tucson Parks and Recreation and Pain Institute of Southern Arizona present the 41st annual Senior Olympic Festival. This festival is a celebration to promote fitness, health, and an active lifestyle among adults 50 years of age and older. Events include volleyball, bowling, bridge, racquetball, basketball shoot, pickleball, archery, golf, tennis, horseshoes, badminton, and so much more. The event is expected to attract 2,000+ participants and is Tucson’s largest organized annual senior activity. For complete Senior Olympic Festival information, visit the Senior Olympic Festival website. Special thanks to our title sponsor, Pain Institute of Southern Arizona.
When: Jan. 3-Feb. 1, 2026
Where: Various venues throughout the city
Registration: Online at EZEEreg.com or call 520-791-4877 beginning Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
Deadline: Friday, Dec. 26, 2025 (some events will take late or walk-up registration, please check with the event coordinator)
Cost: Entry fees vary by event; see the festival website for more information. If you would like to purchase merchandise, such as a T-shirt, lapel pin, or donate, you must add merchandise to your cart during registration.
Ambassadors of Sustainability
 Do you want to better understand the environmental issues in Tucson – and the progress being made? Join interested citizens to learn from experts in diverse realms with Sustainable Tucson’s Ambassadors of Sustainability program. The group meets online Saturday mornings, January 3 through March 28, 10 am - noon. There is a token fee, with scholarships available. Details at sustainabletucson.org/ambassadors.
United Way Of Tucson And Southern Arizona Now Seeking Volunteers For Free Tax Return Preparation Program Sign Up Now Through December 31
United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona is now seeking volunteer tax return preparers for its annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, offering a free training program, available in-person and online, to equip volunteers with IRS-sponsored tax certification. In addition to volunteer tax return preparers, the VITA program is seeking volunteers to serve as site coordinators, intake specialists, and Spanish-speaking interpreters. VITA services for the public will begin February 4 and continue through filing day, April 15.
For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, please visit www.unitedwaytucson.org/vita/volunteer or email vita@unitedwaytucson.org
Winterhaven Festival of Lights 2025 December 13–27, 2025 From 6-10 PM
No wagons or trolleys, the festival is entirely walkable this year.
The Winterhaven Festival of Lights is a beloved, walkable neighborhood event built by—and for—our community. To keep everyone safe and ensure emergency access, parking in residential areas is strictly prohibited and will be actively enforced. Please plan ahead, use our designated parking lots, rideshare options, and carpool whenever possible.
West Entrance – Main Entrance
Tucson Blvd & E Ft Lowell Rd
(Kleindale/Main Entrance)
North Entrance
Prince Rd & Campbell Ave
(Enter by foot on Treat Ave)
South Entrance
Ft Lowell Rd between Country Club Rd & Tucson Blvd
East Entrance
Ft Lowell & Country Club Rd
(Enter on East Kleindale or the Main Entrance)
Please walk carefully, respect neighbors, and follow all posted signage.
S’morry, S’morry Night On Saturday, December 13, 2025, From 5–8 PM At The Drawing Studio
  It’s a cozy winter evening with s’mores, hot chocolate, and live music, plus gifts and merch available on site. We’ll also be featuring our “Tiny Treasures” exhibit, with proceeds from the exhibition benefiting The Drawing Studio. We’re especially excited because The Drawing Studio is partnering with Sigfus Designs for the night; they’ll be hosting a charm bar workshop where guests can design their own charms and bracelets.
Balboa Heights Community Yard Sale Sunday December 14, From 7 AM- 12 PM (Noon)
Tucson Poverty Project's 9th Annual Community Forum on 12/15 at 9am
Direct Linkages Accessible Hiring Event On December 16 From 9 AM - 12 PM
Southern Arizona Home Share Thursday, December 18 2 - 3:30 PM At the Ward 3 Community Room
Cookies with Santa at the Marty Birdman Center December 19 From 5-6:30 PM
WeCare Winter Tech Camp For Kids December 22 & 23 From 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM Cost Is Only $5 Per Day
Pima County Attorney's Office Crisis Intervention and Victimology Training
Ornamental Turf Removal Rebate Program Ends March 1, 2026
ucson Water is encouraging commercial, multifamily, and homeowners association (HOA) customers to take advantage of its Ornamental Turf Removal Rebate Program before it ends on March 1, 2026.
The program, launched in 2024 with funding from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA), offers rebates of $5 per square foot to replace ornamental turfgrass with low-water-use landscaping. The limited-time rebate helps reduce outdoor water use that cannot be recycled, supporting long-term water conservation and lower maintenance costs.
Since its launch, the program has replaced more than 105,000 square feet of turfgrass—about 2.4 acres—saving nearly 4 million gallons of water each year.
Eligible properties can also earn bonus rebates of $100 per new tree and $1 per gallon of rainwater harvesting basin capacity, encouraging shade coverage and sustainable irrigation for desert-adapted landscapes.
For more information about the Ornamental Turf Removal Rebate Program and other Tucson Water conservation incentives, visit tucsonaz.gov/water/rebate or contact conservation@tucsonaz.gov
Adobe Repair Class
 Do you live in an old adobe home? Is it cracking and crumbling? The Vista del Monte Neighborhood Association wants to teach you how to repair it and care for it properly. We’ve recruited an experienced adobe-making teacher for a hands-on class at one of our local 1930s adobe bungalows. We’re still working on the timing and syllabus, but we’re aiming for early 2026.
Right now, we’re just trying to gauge interest. Please take a quick survey to let us know what you want out of adobe classes.
https://bit.ly/adobe-repair-class
Please share the survey link with anyone you know who lives in an old adobe house, too! Or anyone who just wants to learn about adobe for the fun of it.
Solar United Neighbors Tucson Co-op
Find Food Access Resources In Tucson
Tucson food assistance providers are seeing a sharp rise in demand from families affected by delayed federal benefits, such as SNAP and WIC. At the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, there is an increase in first-time visitors, many of whom had never sought food assistance before. Volunteers are working overtime to assemble emergency food boxes for those suddenly without access to those benefits. The Community Food Bank offers help multiple times a week during varying hours continues to distribute food at its main location, 3003 S. Country Club Road, and through partner agencies across Southern Arizona. Officials urge residents in need to reach out early, as local inventories may fluctuate if the shutdown continues. You can also find a list of food resources by following the This is Tucson link below.
Grocery Sharing at Tucson Food Share - 2500 N. Stone Ave.
Groceries are shared Mondays 4:30 - 6 pm, Thursdays 6 - 7:30 pm, and Saturdays from 8 - 9:30 am.
https://tucsonfoodshare.org has more information about volunteering, donating, or requesting delivery.
|
