Lives lost on Tucson streets demand a new transportation and mobility approach

This article originally appeared in the Arizona Daily Star. It represents an opinion and analysis authored by Rocque Perez. The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policies or positions of any affiliation.

Like hundreds of students and residents who cross Euclid Avenue daily, Sophia Troetel, Josiah Santos and Katya Castillo-Mendoza were using a marked crosswalk near the University of Arizona. On Oct. 30, they were struck by another student who was allegedly impaired and speeding. Our community lost Sophia and Josiah that night and Katya the next day.

This tragedy reflects a broader, ongoing struggle in Tucson.

Euclid Avenue has a troubling history of collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists. A similar crash in 2015 injured four students in a crosswalk. In 2025 alone, Tucson has recorded 25 pedestrian fatalities out of 77 total incidents — matching last year’s pedestrian toll and slightly surpassing the overall fatality count.

According to Tucson Delivers, a HAWK beacon — a pedestrian-activated signal designed to improve crosswalk safety — is in the design phase for the Euclid and Second Street intersection through the Safe Streets initiative funded by Prop 411. However, I will work with the Mayor and my Council colleagues to advocate for an expedited installation so this long-overdue safety measure is completed without further delay.

In this case, some action is already underway. Yet Tucson’s transportation and mobility challenges go far beyond a single intersection. Our city remains fundamentally car-centric, with decades of underinvestment in pedestrian, bike, and transit infrastructure. These systemic issues are further compounded by the growing impacts of substance use and mental health challenges.

If we are serious about reducing traffic deaths and building a safer city, we must fiercely advocate for and invest in multimodal infrastructure — safer lighting, traffic calming, accessible sidewalks, protected crossings, and a structured, sustainable approach to fare-free transit.

While the city is making progress through cross-agency collaboration that integrates transportation, public safety, behavioral health, and housing services, we must do more to ensure that every Tucsonan—children, parents, grandparents, and people with disabilities—can safely cross a street, wait for a bus, or get where they need to go.

Meanwhile, our transit system — which serves as a critical link to opportunity — is under increasing strain. From January to May 2025, Sun Tran reported more than 15,000 safety incidents, averaging 100 per day. Surveys show 4 out of 5 bus operators feel unsafe on the job, and fewer than half of riders feel secure while riding or waiting. These are not abstract statistics — they reflect serious, repeated incidents of shootings, stabbings, assaults and harassment at transit stops and on buses.

At the same time, Tucson faces a $70 million citywide budget deficit. Nine percent of our General Fund currently supports transit—unlike cities in central Arizona that fund operations through dedicated transit sales taxes. Without a stable funding mechanism, we’re forced to stretch limited resources to maintain basic services.

While I remain committed to fare-free transit, if the Council is not prepared to ask voters for a dedicated transit funding source, then we must consider reinstating fares — with reduced or no-cost options for low-income riders. Transit revenue, whether from fares or alternative sources, could directly fund expanded safety measures, including increased security, better lighting, driver protection, and real-time response systems.

We must also carefully consider the promises and limitations of RTA Next. While the regional proposal includes important investments in transit operations and safety, Tucsonans are the RTA’s largest contributor, yet our needs have been historically delayed or deprioritized.

That’s why I support exploring a Tucson-specific transportation and mobility funding strategy — one that centers the lived experience of those who walk, bike, ride and wait on our streets every day.

In the meantime, we do have tools we can use now. The City’s Safe Streets Mini Grant Program is currently accepting applications from neighborhood leaders, nonprofits, and schools for small-scale safety improvements near streets, schools, and public spaces. These grants are made possible through Prop 411 to empower community-led solutions while we continue fighting for broader systemic change.

Prop. 411 passed because Tucsonans chose to invest in themselves. We owe them streets that protect every life — students, children, grandparents, workers, and neighbors alike.