Tucson Struggles with Road Woes Tied to Hollowed-Out City Center

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This opinion piece argues that Tucson's chronic road problems are not just about deferred maintenance or budget shortfalls, but are symptomatic of a larger issue - the hollowing out of the city's urban core. Over the past decades, as families and businesses have moved farther from the city center, the roads meant to serve local neighborhoods have become overburdened commuter routes. Meanwhile, vacant lots and defunct commercial properties in the urban core have stifled new development and job growth. The author contends that truly fixing Tucson's roads requires a philosophical shift towards rebuilding the economic and residential vitality of the city's heart.

Why it matters

Tucson's road woes highlight a broader challenge facing many American cities - how to balance outward growth and development with maintaining the health and vibrancy of the urban core. As residents and businesses have dispersed to the suburbs, city centers have often struggled, leading to a vicious cycle of disinvestment, blight, and deteriorating infrastructure. Addressing this issue is crucial not just for improving roads, but for creating more sustainable, equitable, and economically resilient communities.

The details

The opinion piece argues that Tucson's road problems are not just about potholes and deferred maintenance, but are symptomatic of a larger pattern of urban sprawl and disinvestment in the city's core. Over the past decades, as families and professionals have moved farther from the city center to suburbs and exurbs, the roads meant to serve local neighborhoods have become overburdened commuter routes. Meanwhile, midtown neighborhoods that once housed teachers, engineers, and business owners now struggle with blight and visible homelessness as jobs and economic activity have dispersed outward. The author contends that city leadership has failed to cultivate diverse employment hubs in the urban core, leading to a hollowing out of the city's heart.

• Over the past few decades, families and professionals have steadily moved farther from the heart of Tucson.
• For years, city leadership has talked about economic development while allowing meaningful inner-city job centers to erode.

What’s next

The author argues that to truly fix Tucson's roads, the city needs to focus on restoring safety and order in midtown neighborhoods, reforming zoning to allow more infill housing and mixed-use development, and treating job creation in the urban center as essential infrastructure.