Marana aims to improve travel with Transportation Master Plan

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The Town of Marana is continuing to grow quickly, which means more people are going to be using its bike paths and roads in the area.

To prepare for that, town officials are working on its Transportation Master Plan (TMP).

The plan covers every method of travel in the Marana area, including roadways, micromobility, bike paths, and even airspace.

The plan has been in the works for about 1 1/2 years. During that time, the Town of Marana has been gathering public input and collected data.

“The top three needs identified by that survey are to reduce congestion at non-Marana owned facilities,” said Diahn Swartz, Traffic Manager with the Town of Marana. “The second is to just generally relieve congestion on Marana-owned roads and the third is just to maintain existing roadways.”

13 News spoke to some Marana residents who say heavy traffic was one of their concerns. Each one also mentioned one intersection — Cortaro Road and Interstate 10.

The intersection is in the plan and it’s a high priority for the town, but there are a couple of obstacles that make its future uncertain.

“The town of Marana is applying for a railroad crossing elimination grant,” Swartz said. “With that grant, it could help us begin the process of, assuming that we’re successful, doing the design for the overall Cortaro Road I-10 Interchange, which includes separating Cortaro Road from the railroad crossing.”

She also mentioned the need for the Regional Transportation Authority to be re-authorized before work could begin. That’s just one of the many projects the plan would aim to complete. There are also bike paths included.

“Barnett Channel is one that we’ve talked about here in the town of Marana for a few years now and if that comes to be, it would become a linear park and the roadway element goes away. Instead, it becomes a linear park which includes a shared use path for cyclists.”

You can find the draft plan HERE and give feedback until Aug. 16. The plan is expected to go before the Marana Town Council for approval in September.

Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold

Copyright 2024 13 News. All rights reserved.