I am proposing a call to action for all community members, including mayor Regina Romero, and the Tucson City Council.

Accessibility to community spaces at the Ronstadt Transit Center should ensure historical prosperity, shade equity, and environmental protections.

Shade is an equity issue!

• What you may not know, is that 20% of Tucsonans are living below the poverty rate.

• The heat of the inner city is exacerbated by the heat island effect - causing temperatures to be 10-15 degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas.

• The Ronstadt Transit Center contributes to the heat island effect because of the brick and concrete that make up this area with very little shading.
  
  My proposal for these issues is to create an open-air plaza that is front and center of the newly proposed transit center.
  
  Why would a plaza be beneficial to this area of downtown?

• Ask our growing number of visitors!

• Tucson has seen an increase in hotel occupancies and peak seasonal passengers at Tucson airport.

• Creating a space that welcomes locals and tourists to our city will only help local businesses and keep Tucsonans employed.
  
  Who else would benefit from the plaza?

• Anyone who rides public transportation from Sun Tran.

• This area is the transit hub for Sun Tran and across the street is a stop for the Sun Link.

• According to the latest rider reports from Sun Tran, ridership increased for Sun Tran and Sun Link when compared from March 2021 to March 2022.
  
  And finally, and most importantly, how can the environment benefit?

• By creating better solutions to divert and reduce the impact of stormwater during the monsoon season.

• By reducing pollution and promoting bike share and bicycle repair stations.

• By adding shade structures to cool the space and reduce the impact of the heat island effect.
  
  Mayor Regina Romero and Tucson City Council:

• Commit to revising the design proposal approved in 2015 for an equitable solution that can be shared by all locals and visitors.

• Provide a refuge for riders on Sun Tran and Sun Link.

• Commit to local businesses by ensuring habitable and safe spaces downtown for all members of the Tucson community.

Thank you.