9606 the loop - the business case for recreation ... · 8/25/2015 4 tourism birding is big in pima...

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Historic Flooding

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Public Infrastructure Benefits

Multi-use path—repurposes existing wash culvertalso as a roadway separated path

Public Infrastructure Benefits Julian Wash—transforms blighted area with new

recreational infrastructure

Public Infrastructure Benefits Flat, Black & Wide vs. Public Art

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The Loop Cost To-Date: $100M

Funding Sources

Local, $45.4M since 1997 (County bonds)

State & Federal, $54.6M

Cost to Complete

$20M (half funded)

Cost to Upgrade

$85M to bring all segments up to premium

Tourism

Outdoor recreation injects $646B in U.S. economy

Every state’s largest economic engine (Ranks 1st, 2nd, or 3rd)

Outdoor recreation results in 19 western states

$256B Direct spending

2.3M Jobs

$ 2.4B Spent in Pima County

Outdoor Industry Association,https://outdoorindustry.org/pdf/OIA_OutdoorRecEconomyReport2012.pdf

Economic Benefits

Outdoor Industry Association, https://outdoorindustry.org/pdf/OIA_OutdoorRecEconomyReport2012.pdf

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TourismBirding is big in Pima County

Pima County & Audubon Society classes on The Loop

$40.9B U.S. birders’ direct spendingin 2011

$13.0B State & federal tax revenuegenerated in 2011

666K Jobs created nationwide in 2011

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://www.fws.gov/southeast/economicImpact/pdf/2011‐BirdingReport‐‐FINAL.pdf

Business ImpactsJobs CreatedBicycle and Multi-use Projects create most jobs11.4 and 9.6 respectively for each $1M spent

ARRA shows 10.8 jobs per $1M spent

Executive Office of the President, Council on Economic Advisors, (ARRA), https://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Job‐Years_Revised5‐8.pdf

Property Value BenefitsGreen Space Premiums

Cincinnati, $9,000 within 1,000 feet of bike paths

Indiana, 10% premium when located near trail

West Virginia

$2,600 premium when park is nearby

$10,600-$11,060 premium for proximity to trail

Ohio, Little Miami Scenic Trail$7.05 for every foot closer to trail

Outdoor Industry Association, https://outdoorindustry.org/pdf/OIA_OutdoorRecEconomyReport2012.pdf

West Virginia, http://cber.iweb.bsu.edu/propertytax/3‐Burton‐and‐Hicks.pdf

Ohio, http://atfiles.org/files/pdf/LittleMiamiPropValue.pdf

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, http://atfiles.org/files/pdf/Economic‐Benefits‐Active.pdf

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The Loop Location BenefitsHomes within 1 mile of river=$3,814 (near Tubac)

Homes sold within 0.2 miles of riparian area=4%

Total property value increase=$5.34 to $13.6M

Homes 1.1 miles of Santa Cruz River=$4,169 to$7,315(est.)

* An Economic Assessment of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, Bark-Hodgins and Colby, 2006

Location, Location, Location

Mileage Reduction BenefitBicycle & Ped Infrastructure vs. Automobile

Nearly 1/2 the urban household trip in U.S are

2 miles and completed within 15-minute bike ride¼ of all trips completed within a 20-minute walk

Cost of one 4-lane highway is $50M

Same $50M would buy dozens miles of Bike & Ped Infrastructure

National Trails Training Partnership: www.Americantrails.org/resources/economics/businessoftrails.html

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Mileage Reduction BenefitCarbon Emissions Reductions

Annual alternate modes savings: $10B―$65B

FHWA annual alternate modes budget is only $453M

Pima County Environmental Savings

23 million miles traveled daily

Each mile not driven reduces 1 lb. of CO2 emissions

If drivers left their cars just 1 day a week, they would reduce CO2 emissions by over 3 million lbs.

Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (facts): www.pima.gov/deq/air/cap.html

“People want alternative forms of transportation; they don’t want to own two or three cars. And they want green space, biking and walking paths…”

―Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation

AARP Bulletin interview with US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, October 2009, http://www.aarp.org/home‐garden/housing/info‐10‐2009/living_in_a_post_car_world.html

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Stressed NeighborhoodsThe Intertwine in Portland, OregonAvoided 17M lbs. of weight gain

Averted $155M in annual health care costs

The Intertwine Alliance, http://theintertwine.org/intertwine-benefits-our-health

Health Matters—Obesity/Diabetes1960-2009, Bicycling & walking levels fell 66%

1966-2009, Children’s biking & walking to schoolfell 75%; obesity tripled

Surgeon General & President’s Council on Fitness “…build more trails…”

Connecticut Association of Directors of Health, http://www.cadh.org/images/stories/HousingBrief2012.pdf

The Loop Return on Investment

Benefit to Government Benefit to Pima County Residents Total

Jobs Created $5,400,000 $5,400,000

Outdoor Recreation $72,000,000 $72,000,000

Regional Sales Tax $57,600,000 $57,600,000

Value to Homes $300,000,000 $300,000,000

Property Tax Revenue $40,000,000 $40,000,000

Averted Health Care Costs $465,000,000 $465,000,000

Total $103,000,000 $837,000,000 $940,000,000

Final Loop Build‐out, every $1 invested equals: $1.03 $8.37 $9.40

Every $1 invested in The Loop yields over $9of economic benefit to Pima County residents.

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Brandingwww.facebook.com/ridetheloop

www.BikePed.pima.gov

The Loop Reports

www.pima.gov/theloop

1 Live, shop, work, play

Economic, Environmental, Community, and Health Impact Study

2Live, shop, work, play

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Brandi FentonMemorial Park

George Mehl FamilyFoothills Park

Ft. LowellPark

Morris K. UdallRegional Center

Randolph Golf CourseDell Urich

Golf CourseGene C. Reid

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Children’sMemorial

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Gladden FarmsCommunity

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El RioPark

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Mike JacobSports Park Ted Walker

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Pima Air andSpace Museum

MichaelPerry Park

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Northwest YMCA-Pima County

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Christina-TaylorGreen Memorial

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Kory Laos MemorialFreestyle BMX Park

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The Loop encircles Tucson with shared-use paths for biking, walking, and horseback riding on the banks of the metro region’s rivers and washes. Watch short video about The Loop: http://bit.ly/Zjovov


Background/HistoryThe Loop encompasses both banks of four major river systems or waterways. Pima County residents and visitors can enjoy biking, walking, or horseback riding along the Rillito River, the Santa Cruz River, the Pantano Wash, the Ju-lian Wash and the Harrison Greenway. The Loop also has paths along tributary washes or extensions. These include the Tanque Verde Wash and the Cañada del Oro Wash.

The Loop, a 131-mile, shared-use path, began as an infrastructure project to protect the community from potential flooding during the torrential rains of the summer monsoon. During the past 40 years, Pima County invested over $70 mil-lion toward improvements along The Loop. This report will begin to identify the benefits of those investments and quantify the return on investment.

Economic impactsEstimating the economic aspects of The Loop is challenging. Conventional evaluation techniques suggest that any bicycle facilities should be considered in the same manner as other transportation facilities (e.g., roadways, light rail, HOV lanes) or, for that matter, any major public capital investment (e.g., wastewater treatment plant, sports stadium). Doing so subjects these facilities to the same methodologies or criteria used in larger projects such as cost-benefit analysis, economic impact assessment (local, regional or state), cost-effectiveness evaluation, and financial or risk analysis. Of these approaches,

cost-benefit analysis is the most well-known and frequently used. It compares the effects of proposed policies or projects on social well-being. This approach requires identifying all project impacts (positive or negative) in the present and the future and then assigning an economic value to these impacts. Much of the data presented in this report was the result of cost-benefit analysis from a variety of sources.

An extensive literature search provides data for this analysis. Sources are listed at the end of this report. Although no original research was undertaken, find-ings from these studies have been adapted to local scenarios wherever pos-sible. The following is an analysis of the impacts by category.Restaurants and shops benefit from proximity to The Loop.

Parks along The Loop are amenities for residents and tourists.


Construction worker adds to bank protection to widen The Loop shared-use path.


BusinEss/EmpLoymEntA 2011 study by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts on Pedestrian and Bicycling Infrastructure showed benefits to the facility users as well as the rest of the community. The study analyzed employment that results from the design and construction of bicycle-related projects. These results were reported nationally in 2012. The study estimates the employment impacts of building and refurbishing transportation infra-structure for cyclists and pedestrians using state-specific data to estimate the number of jobs created within each state where the project is located. Researchers gathered data for this study from public works and transportation departments in 11 cities throughout the United States.

The study evaluated 58 separate projects. The findings show that bicycling infrastructure creates the most jobs for a given level of spending. The table below identifies job creation by infrastructure type.

Table 1. Jobs created per $1 million spent on infrastructure projects by type

Bicycle Only Projects 11.4 jobs

Pedestrian Only Projects 10 jobs

Multi-use Projects 9.6 jobs

Road Projects 7.8 jobs

The Loop is a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian facility that creates 9.6 jobs per $1 million of investment. To date the $70 million investment has created more than 675 jobs in Arizona. Ninety percent, or 600 jobs, have been created in Pima County.

Another study shows how businesses benefited from the Great Allegheny Passage, a 132-mile system of biking and hiking trails that connects Cumber-land, Maryland, to McKeesport, Pennsylvania. In 2006, the final segment was connected to the C & O Canal Towpath in Cumberland, creating a continuous non-motorized corridor, 318 miles long, from McKeesport to Washington, D.C. A study was commissioned to determine the economic impact that the completion of the trail has had on the adjacent towns and businesses. Busi-ness owners indicated that one-quarter of their gross revenue was directly attributed to trail users and two-thirds reported that they experienced at least some increase in gross revenue because of their proximity to the trail. Over one-quarter of all businesses that were surveyed mentioned that they have expanded or plan to expand their operations or hire additional staff because of the impact of the trail.

The Atlanta Beltline is a trail system similar to The Loop. It began as a graduate thesis in 1999 and now links 45 neighborhoods around downtown. As a result of the trail’s popularity, construction along the trail boomed. One of the recent projects is the rehabilitation of a former Sears’ distribution warehouse. This 2.1 million square foot facility is be transformed into apartments, restaurants, and a rooftop miniature golf course. Other businesses along the Beltline have experienced a tenfold increase in business since the trail opened.

Reichold Inc. relocated to Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, in 1992, ranking the “jogging trails” as the biggest attractor for their employees. The region’s greenway system is touted as its competitive advantage when attract-ing world-class companies.

Trails are often associated with open space. Such is true with The Loop. An analysis of rural western counties with more than 30 percent of their land under federal protection showed they increased jobs at a rate four times faster than rural counties with no federally protected lands (Headwaters Economics, 2012 – based on data between 1970 and 2009).

This box culvert will allow Loop users to pass safely beneath a busy roadway.

6Live, shop, work, play5

tourismTourism ranks first, second or third as the largest economic engine in every state in the nation. Outdoor recreation is a larger and more critical sector of the American economy than most people realize. As a multi-dimensional sector, the outdoor industry injects $646 billion in direct spending into the American economy. The Western Governors’ Association reports that out-door recreation in 19 western states results in $256 billion in direct spending and 2.3 million jobs; $2.4 billion of that is spent in Pima County. Outdoor recreation fuels traditional sectors like manufacturing, finance, retail trade, tourism, and travel. Outdoor recreation is often considered a recession-proof industry, growing approximately 5 percent annually between 2005 and 2011. This occurred during an economic recession when many sectors contracted.

The Loop is a key outdoor recreation draw for the region. The League of American Bicyclists’ Platinum Evaluation recommends completion, expan-sion, and promotion of The Loop as a signature “must ride” for visitors and residents alike. The Loop is used for many of the most popular segments of

outdoor recreation: trail sports (walking, running, horseback riding; bicy-cling; skating/skateboarding) and wildlife viewing (bird watching). Each segment has the potential to generate significant tourism and outdoor recre-ation dollars. For example, birders in the U.S. spent $35.7 billion on birding trips and associated equipment, which generated $10.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue. Birding supported the creation of 671,000 jobs nation-wide. Pima County is on the Pacific Flyway, a key waterfowl migration course. It is also home to the Sky Islands, which connect to the Sierra Madre Occi-dental; a 932-mile mountain range in western Mexico that is home to a high number of bird species. The Loop is regularly used by the Audubon Society for bird-watching field trips and other birding events.

Supporting the outdoor recreation economy on our public lands not only provides places to play, it also supports our businesses. Outdoor recreation is fundamental to recruiting employers and is the heart of a healthy and productive community. Open spaces and recreation draw after-work activity and tourists alike.

Winter visitors walk their dog on The Loop.


HousingOne of the reasons people pay a premium to live in desirable areas is that they are paying for the option to use specific facilities, whether or not they actually do. For instance people may pay a premium to live near a bike path even though they do not ride because they might want to in the future. In this respect, such proximity would be valued by current and potential users. These benefits are re-vealed through preferences that represent an elusive phenomenon to which an economic value can be attached. The National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders found that residential properties increase 10 to 20 percent in value the closer they are to green space.

Research finds that homeowners are willing to pay a premium of $9,000 on houses that are within 1,000 feet of bike paths (University of Cincinnati, 2011). Homes in Indiana sold for at least 10 percent more when located near a trail (Center for Urban Policy and the Environment, December 2003). In West Virginia, studies found that parks increase the value of a home within a census tract by $2,600. The presence of trails increased median home values by $10,600 to $11,060, increasing property values by $280 million in a community with a popu-lation of approximately 100,000 and median home value of $110,000.

Evidence from a study of the impacts of the Little Miami Scenic Trail in Ohio sug-gests that these types of infrastructure improvements result in financial benefits in terms of increased property values. With all other factors held constant, home

Sweetwater Wetlands and the Sonoran Desert provide a range of bird watching on The Loop.

sale prices in the two counties where the trail was constructed increased $7.05 for every foot closer a property was located to the trail. This study suggests that these types of improvements can have a positive effect on the economic well-being of the surrounding community. Applying this approach to home values in Pima County would result in an additional value of $300 million for homes adjacent to The Loop. This in turn creates in excess of $3 million in property tax revenue.

The consensus of these studies was that trails and open space make our com-munities more attractive places to live and visit. A survey from the National Association of Realtors found that 58 percent of Americans think a walkable neighborhood is an important consideration that attracts people, businesses, and tourism. Additionally, investing in public space restoration can lower crime rates by 33 percent (Ogden Utah Recreation report).

The notion that trails improve nearby property values is rooted in the so-called proximate principle (Crompton 2004). This concept suggests that the costs of developing and maintaining trails are eventually recovered by way of increased property tax revenues. Thus, increases in property tax revenues due to trail development can be retained to pay for future trail acquisition and development or to pay off the debt incurred from the initial investment into the trail.

An Overlooked Economic GiantAnnual Consumer Spending, in Billions

HOUSEHOLD UTILITIES $309

PHARMACEUTICALS $331

MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS $340

OUTDOOR RECREATION $646

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND INSURANCE $780

OUTPATIENT HEALTH CARE $767

GASOLINE AND OTHER FUELS $354

Excerpt from “The Outdoor Recreation Economy,” 2010, Outdoor Industry Association.

0 $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 $600 $700 $800


Developers build new neighborhoods near The Loop.


aLtErnativE transportationNearly half of urban household trips in America are two miles or less. These trips can be completed within a 15-minute bike ride. A quarter of all trips are within a 20-minute walk. Yet the vast majority of these short trips are taken by automobile. Bicycling and walking can also improve public transportation by providing fast and well-planned access to it. Given the availability of safe and convenient infrastructure, more people will choose bicycling or walking for short trips and in combination with public transportation for longer trips. Further, communities conducive to bicycling and walking promote a richer and denser mix of residences and businesses.

For the price of a single mile of a four-lane urban highway, approximately $50 million, dozens of miles of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure can be built, an investment that could complete an entire network of active transportation facilities for a mid-sized city. Reliable estimates of the costs of investment to achieve a certain mode shift towards bicycling and walking nationwide are not available because tracking of spending and travel data has been insufficient. On a local level, however, there is ample quantitative evidence from places like Portland, Minneapolis, and California, as well as from Europe and Australia that investment in safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure results in increased bicycling and walking. Portland, for example, has seen steady increases in bicycling to levels now five times higher than in 1990.

Improved mobility, reduced fuel consumption, reduced greenhouse gases, im-proved health, and health care savings provide significant financial benefits. In a national study reviewing a variety of scenarios for public investment in alter-nate modes, savings between $10 billion and $65 billion annually were identi-fied. These benefits dwarf historic spending for bicycling and walking, which was $453 million per year for 2005-2007 under the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), and only $4.5 billion in cumulative federal investment in these modes since 1992, when bicycling and walking first received documentable federal funding.

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said that when Americans across the country were asked what their communities needed, “People want alternative forms of transportation. They don’t want to own two or three cars. And they want green space, biking and walking paths….”

Given the great return on investment from active transportation, fiscally responsible federal transportation policy must strive to maximize the amount that Americans bicycle and walk.

HEaLtH BEnEfitsBicycling and walking levels fell 66 percent between 1960 and 2009, while obesity levels increased by 156 percent.

Between 1966 and 2009, the number of children who bicycled or walked to school fell 75 percent, while the percentage of obese children tripled. In general, states with the highest levels of bicycling and walking have the low-est levels of obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), and diabetes. These same communities have the greatest percentage of adults who meet the recommended 30-plus minutes per day of physical activity.

Bicycling and walking also offer tremendous benefits for Americans’ health. Because transportation is a routine in which we all engage, active transpor-tation has great potential to increase our levels of physical activity and help reverse current obesity trends. Modest increases in bicycling and walking for short trips could provide enough exercise for 50 million inactive Americans to meet recommended activity levels, putting a sizable dent in America’s activ-ity deficit. In addition, the increase in worker productivity (due to improved health) increases economic output and benefits employers.

Commuters use The Loop to connect to downtown Tucson and other employment centers.


Both the Surgeon General of the United States and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition are encouraging communities to “build more trails.” Instead of disconnecting exercise as a separate activity that must be squeezed into a person’s busy day, exercise can be reintroduced as part of other daily routines. Biking and walking are simple activities that can be incorporated in getting from Place A to Place B every day. By leaving the vehicle at home, a

person can run errands (or commute to work or school) and be active at the same time. In Pima County, The Loop provides a safe and accessible place for healthy, active transportation.

The benefits of physical activity in enhancing overall health are well estab-lished. The task of attaching monetary amounts to levels of physical activity is a more challenging endeavor. One attempt is offered by Wang et al. (2004), who derive cost-effectiveness measures of bicycle/pedestrian trails by dividing the costs of trail development and maintenance by selected physical activity-related outcomes of the trails (e.g., number of trail users). The average annual cost to the local government for persons becoming more physically active was found to be $98 per person.

The Intertwine is an interconnected system of parks, trails and natural areas in Portland, Oregon. It is composed of the natural and built infrastructure of the system, as well as multiple amenities similar to The Loop in Pima County. In the Intertwine system there are 1,250 miles of designated bicycle and pedestrian trails, 12,000 acres of developed parks, and 24,000 acres of maintained natural area. It is estimated that 8.3 million user visits to the parks and natural areas occur each year. The Loop and CAP Trail, more than 40 miles along the Central Arizona Project canal, will have close to 200 miles of bike and walking paths once complete. The Loop connects to over 23,034 acres of green space and 41 developed parks.

The Loop, like the Intertwine, has the capacity to act as a public health re-source and contribute to a healthy sustainable community. Primarily this func-tion is served by providing opportunities for physical activity. Physical activity is useful for reducing the prevalence and risk of many common and costly chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes. One of the principal ways that physical activity reduces the prevalence and risk of chronic disease is via reduction of body mass index (BMI) and subsequent occurrence of obesity.

An assessment of the physical activity that occurs in the Intertwine was a part of a larger project to assess the holistic benefits of the Intertwine, including economic and environmental benefits to the region. It is estimated that use of the Intertwine is responsible for the avoided weight gain of 17 million pounds/year for all residents of the Portland metropolitan area. In health-care dollars, this is the equivalent of $155 million in averted health-care costs every year. Using the Portland model, Loop users would show almost 3 million pounds in avoided weight gain and almost $25 million in averted health-care costs.

A BMX park on The Loop creates fun and healthy activities for youth.


People of all ages enjoy exercising outdoors on The Loop.


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 26.6 per-cent of adults in Pima County were obese in 2009. This is higher than the state average of 24.7 percent, but lower than the national average of 35.7 percent. The CDC recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days, which is the equivalent of 1.5 miles of walking or 5 miles of biking at a moderate pace. Thus, as residents make use of The Loop, walking or biking for short trips instead of driving, they will receive added health benefits from a more active lifestyle.

EnvironmEntBikes are a very environmentally friendly means of transportation: no tailpipe emissions, no evaporative emissions, no emissions from gasoline pumping or oil refining, and zero carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases that contrib-ute to global warming. Bicycling also means less water pollution (many people do not realize that motor vehicles are a significant source of water pollution as well as air pollution). And, bikes are quiet, so they do not contribute to noise pollution. Biking and walking reduces global warming emissions, which reduc-es the costs of climate change to governments, businesses, and individuals.

In eastern Pima County, 22 million miles are driven each day, according to the Pima Association of Governments (PAG). Each mile not driven reduces CO₂ emissions by one pound. So, in the four days a week example above there would be a reduction of 2,000 pounds of CO₂ emissions by bicycling.

If local residents had the opportunity to run more errands by bicycling or walking, they could save approximately 500 gallons of fuel ($1,625 in annual gasoline savings) or 10,000 pounds of CO₂ each year.

Every one mile driven in a vehicle means that one pound of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is released into the atmosphere (PAG). In 2011, daily driving in Pima County contributed 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide pounds to air pollution.

The total amount of gasoline used in eastern Pima County is approximately 1,100,000 gallons burned per day. The gasoline costs alone would be $3.85 mil-lion based on $3.50 per gallon.

A local high school on The Loop started a bicycling club.


Table 2. The Loop Return on Investment

concLusionThe advantages of bicycling and walking reach beyond transportation alone. Savings in fuel costs, a smaller carbon footprint, and a practical way to achieve recommended levels of physical activity are among the benefits that make The Loop an irresistible all-in-one package. Providing alternate transportation routes and easy commuting to and from work via The Loop and its connecting bike infrastructure helps individuals and families offset impacts of gasoline inflation and soaring health-care costs. As families save money on transportation and health care, they increase spending on retail and services benefiting the private sector. In addition, building The Loop infrastructure creates jobs and the com-pleted infrastructure increases home values nearby.

Other American communities have calculated the benefits of shared-use paths and greenways, described in this report. Table 2 illustrates these economic benefits when applied to The Loop.

Benefit to Government Benefit to Pima County Residents TotalJobs Created $5,400,000 $5,400,320Outdoor Recreation $72,000,000 $72,000,000Regional Sales Tax $57,600,000 $57,600,000Value to Homes $300,000,000 $300,000,000Property Tax Revenue $40,000,000 $40,000,000Averted Health Care Costs $465,000,000 $465,000,000Total $103,000,000 $837,000,000 $940,000,000 Final Loop Build-out, every $1invested equals: $1.03 $8.37 $9.40

Every one dollar invested in The Loop yields over nine dollars of economic benefit to Pima County residents. This includes immediate economic benefits

Art accents parks and rest areas on The Loop.


Using The Loop for transportation reduces carbon emissions.

Tucson’s El Grupo youth cycling team trains future state champions on The Loop.

like jobs created and outdoor recreation spending from residents and visitors, as well as long-term benefits like health care savings.

Bicycles are the ultimate clean-air, zero-emissions mode of transportation. Bikes are practical, economical, low-maintenance, and non-polluting. Bicycling is a fast and practical way to get around Tucson, where the climate is favorable to bicycling year-round, especially via The Loop.

The U.S. is currently experiencing high unemployment, unsustainable use of car-bon-based energy, and a national obesity epidemic. All three of these problems can be partly addressed through increased use of The Loop. Providing pedes-trian and bicycling infrastructure for the purposes of commuting, recreation, and fitness is arguably more important than ever before. In addition, designing and building this infrastructure can also address the problem of unemployment, by creating jobs for engineers, construction workers, and workers who produce the construction materials. The business community benefits from the additional sales to users of The Loop and its associated facilities.

The health benefits of bike/walk investments can significantly reduce individual health-care costs, bringing down insurance rates for everyone. For example, residents of Portland, Oregon, currently save over $155 million a year in avoided health-care costs due to that city’s smart investments in bike/walk infrastructure. Combined with fuel savings, the net benefit of Portland’s investment is project-ed to grow to $1.2 billion by 2040 – a return on investment of over $8 for each dollar invested.

Given all the measurable and immeasurable benefits of bicycling and walking, as well as the improvement of individual quality of life, it becomes indisputable that the community benefits from The Loop. The Loop is a key amenity that helps attract and retain high-wage employers; improves the value of adjacent lands; enhances the quality of life and health for our community; generates revenues; promotes tourism; and improves the tax base, providing a growing source of income for the entire region. The Loop connects people and commu-nities to the places where we live, work, shop, learn and play.


Karadeniz, D. (2008). The impact of trails on single family residential property values. Re-trieved from http://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/littlemiamipropvalue.html

Ketcham, B. and C. Komanoff, (1993) Win-Win Transportation: A No-Losers Approach to Financing Transport in New York City and the Region, Transportation Alternatives.

Krizek, K.J. (2007). Estimating the economic benefits of bicycling and bicycle facilities: An in-terpretive review and proposed methods. Retrieved from http://www.peoplepoweredmove-ment.org/site/images/uploads/Economic_Benefits_of_Bicycling

League of American Bicyclists. (2009, June). The economic benefits of bicycle infrastructure investments. Retrieved from http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/reports/pdfs/economic_benefits_bicycle_infrastructure_report.pdf

League of American Bicyclists. (2012, July). Bicycling means business: The economic benefits of bicycle infrastructure. Retrieved from http://www.advocacyadvance.org/site_images/con-tent/Final_Econ_Update(small).pdf

League of American Bicyclists. (2012). Feedback: Bicycle friendly community appli-cation: Tucson and Eastern Pima County. Retrieved from https://www.pagnet.org/documents/2012LABfeedback.pdf

League of American Bicyclists. (n.d.). Quality bike products health and wellbeing program case study. Retrieved from http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/bicyclefriendlybusiness/pdfs/quality_bike_products_health_reward_program.pdf

Lloyd, T. (2012, October 15). Building a bastion for commuter cities the world over. Retrieved from http://www.constructiondigital.com/architectural_design/building-a-bastion-for-com-muter-cities-the-world-over

MacKenzie, James J. et al., (1992, June) The Going Rate: What It Really Costs to Drive, World Resources Institute.

National Trails Training Partnership (2007, March 16). We built it and they came. Retrieved from http://www.americantrails.org/resources/ManageMaintain/ManageMCSearns.html North Carolina Department of Transportation. (2004). Pathways to prosperity: The economic impact of investments in bicycles facilities: A case study of North Carolina northern outer banks. Retrieved from http://www.ncdot.gov/bikeped/download/bikeped_research_EIA-fulltechreport.pdf

Outdoor Industry Association. (2012, June). A snapshot of the economic impact of outdoor recreation. Retrieved from http://www.outdoorindustry.org/research/economicimpact.php?action=detail&research_id=160

Penna, C.D. (2009, March 29). Home sales near two Massachusetts rail trails. Retrieved from http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/dellapennasales.html

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. (2012). Active transportation for America. The case for increased federal investment in bicycling and walking. Retrieved from http://www.railstotrails.org/resources/documents/whatwedo/atfa/atfa_20081020.pdf

San Diego Association of Governments. (2006, March 17). Bayshore bikeway plan. Retrieved from http://www.sandag.org/uploads/projectid/projectid_63_5152.pdf

rEfErEncEsAppalachian Trail Project Office. (1981). Comprehensive Plan for the protection, management, development and use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, pp. X, 5. Retrieved from http://atfiles.org/files/pdf/ATCompPlan.pdf

Arizona Office of Tourism. (2009, June). Arizona Travel impacts: 1998-2008p. Retrieved from http://www.azot.gov/documents/AZ_Travel_Impacts_2008p_final.pdf

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. (2012). The economic impact of travel in Arkan-sas. Retrieved from http://www.arkansas.com/!userfiles/apt-economic-report-2012.pdf

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (2010). Atlanta BeltLine Annual Report 2010: A year of dedication: Bringing the vision to life. Retrieved from http://beltlineorg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ABL-2010-Annual-Report1.pdf

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (2011). Atlanta Beltline Annual Report 2011: Grand openings, green foundations. Retrieved from http://beltlineorg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/up-loads/2012/05/ABL-2011-Annual-Report1.pdf

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (2012, March 20). Quarterly briefing. Retrieved from http://beltlineorg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Atlanta-BeltLine-Quarterly-Brief-ing_2009_Q4.pdf

Beil, K. (2011, January 21). Physical activity and the intertwine: A public health method of reducing obesity and health-care costs. Retrieved from http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IntertwinePAObesityAssessment.pdf

Center for Urban Policy and the Environment. (2003, December). Public choices and property values: Evidence from greenways in Indianapolis. Retrieved from http://atfiles.org/files/pdf/lindseypropvalues.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009) “Diabetes Data and Trends,” http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDT_STRS2/CountyPrevalenceData.aspx

Civic Tourism. (2010). Strategies: Rethink economies. Retrieved from http://www.civictourism.org/strategies1.html

City of Raleigh Department of Tourism. (2010). Economic benefits of greenspace. Retrieved from http://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PlanUrbanDesign/Documents/LunchForums/Eco-nomic_Benefits_of_Greenspace_Presentation.pdf

Campos, Inc. (2009, August 7). The Great Allegheny Passage economic study (2007-2008). Retrieved from http://www.atatrail.org/docs/GAPeconomicImpactStudy200809.pdf

Greer, D.L. (2001). Omaha recreational trails: Their effect on property values and public safety. Retrieved from http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/OmahaStudy.html

IHS Global Insight. (2010, August) 2009 tourism satellite account. Retrieved from http://trav-elksindustry.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/147

Kansas Department of Commerce. (2010, October 12). Kansas tourism has a $5.46 billion dollar impact, study shows. Retrieved from http://www.kansascommerce.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=110


The Institute for Comprehensive Community Development. (2011, December 11). Designing for healthy communities: Active living and comprehensive community development. http://www.instituteccd.org/news/3258

Tintle, Robert. (2012, August). Bicycle sharing programs: enhancing community livability. Retrieved from http://www.apwa.net/Resources/Reporter/Articles/2012/8/Bicycle-sharing-programs-enhancing-community-livability

United Nations Environment Programme. (2009). Policy recommendations on sustainable tourism development. Retrieved from http://www.unep.fr/scp/marrakech/taskforces/pdf/POLICY_RECOMMENDATIONS-ITF_STD_2009.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2012). The outdoor recreation economy. Retrieved from http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5389204.pdf

U.S. Department of Commerce. (2012, March 21). U.S. Commerce Department releases data showing tourism spending increased 8.1 percent in 2011, supporting an additional 103,000 tourism-related jobs. Retrieved from http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releas-es/2012/03/21/us-commerce-department-releases-data-showing-tourism-spending-increas

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2007, October) Birding in the United States: A Demographic Economic Analysis. Retrieved from http://digitalmedia.fws.gov/cdm/ref/collection/docu-ment/id/176 Walljasper, J. (2012, April 18). Boom in biking benefits everyone, not just bicyclists. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2012/0418/Boom-in-biking-benefits-everyone-not-just-bicyclists

Wang, G., Macera, C.A., Scudder-Soucie, B., Schmid, T., Pratt, M., Buchner, D. (2004, February). Cost effectiveness of a bicycle/pedestrian trail development in health promotion. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14715217

ELEctronic rEfErEncE Links By topicThe Loop www.pima.gov/theloop/Economic Impacthttp://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/images/uploads/Economic_Benefits_of_Bi-cycling_and Bicycle_Facilities.pdfhttp://www.bicyclinginfo.org/bikecost/docs/Guidelines.pdf

Business/Employmenthttp://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/businessoftrails.htmlhttp://fresh-energy.org/2011/09/energy-101-whats-the-return-on-investment-for-biking-and-walking/

Tourismhttps://www.pagnet.org/documents/2012LABfeedback.pdfhttp://www.azot.gov/documents/AZ_Travel_Impacts_2008p_final.pdfhttp://www.atatrail.org/docs/GAPeconomicImpactStudy200809.pdfhttp://www.unep.fr/scp/marrakech/taskforces/pdf/POLICY_RECOMMENDATIONS-ITF_STD_2009.pdf

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5389204.pdfhttp://www.outdoorindustry.org/research/economicimpact.php?action=detail&research_id=160

Housinghttp://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/littlemiamipropvalue.htmlhttp://carbon.ucdenver.edu/~kkrizek/pdfs/Walk%20and%20bike%20demand.pdfhttp://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/images/uploads/Economic_Benefits_of_Bi-cycling_and_Bicycle_Facilities.pdfhttp://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/littlemiamipropvalue.htmlhttp://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/OmahaStudy.htmlhttp://www.apwa.net/Resources/Reporter/Articles/2012/8/Bicycle-sharing-programs-en-hancing-community-livability

Alternative Transportation Modehttps://www.pagnet.org/documents/2012LABfeedback.pdfhttp://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/businessoftrails.html

Healthhttp://fresh-energy.org/2011/09/energy-101-whats-the-return-on-investment-for-biking-and-walking/http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/images/uploads/Economic_Benefits_of_Bi-cycling_and_Bicycle_Facilities.pdfhttp://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IntertwinePAObesityAssessment.pdfhttp://atfiles.org/files/pdf/lindseypropvalues.pdfhttp://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDT_STRS2/CountyPrevalenceData.aspx

Environmenthttp://fresh-energy.org/2011/09/energy-101-whats-the-return-on-investment-for-biking-and-walking/http://www.baaqmd.gov/Divisions/Communications-and-Outreach/Spare-the-Air/Bicycles-and-Air-Quality.aspx

Bicycling Studies / Case StudiesAtlanta Beltline—Georgia http://beltlineorg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ABL-2011-An-nual-Report1.pdfhttp://beltlineorg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ABL-2010-An-nual-Report1.pdfhttp://beltlineorg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Atlanta-Belt-Line-Quarterly-Briefing_2009_Q4.pdfBayshore Bikeway Plan—San Diego, Californiahttp://www.sandag.org/uploads/projectid/projectid_63_5152.pdf


Pima County Board of SupervisorsRamón Valadez, Chairman, Supervisor, District 2

Ally Miller, Supervisor, District 1Sharon Bronson, Supervisor, District 3

Raymond J. Carroll, Supervisor, District 4Richard Elías, Supervisor, District 5

Pima County AdministratorChuck Huckelberry

The First

1OOMiles

2 0 1 4 A N N U A L R E P O R T

Jennifer Brown and Sandy Ballis ride their horses along The Loop as it runs along the Rillito River between La Cañada and La Cholla.

Spotting wildlife along all reaches of The Loop is quite common.

Running water is often seen in the Santa Cruz River bed along sections of The Loop on the northwest side of Tucson near the Town of Marana.

1

Everyone loves The LoopIt is a rare weekend I don’t get on my bike, join a half dozen friends and tour The Loop. And I’m not alone. On a typical weekend day, I’ll see thousands of walkers, joggers, cyclists, dogs and horses – not to mention dozens of bird species, a wide variety of reptiles, coyotes, javelinas, even the occasional bobcat and Gila Monster. The Loop’s appeal is apparent in the faces of those who use it. In recent weeks, we took to The Loop’s Facebook page and asked our friends what it was

about The Loop that makes it so special to them. Their answers and much more are shared throughout this first Annual Loop Report.

In the past seven years, The Loop has grown exponentially, and so has the number of users. Connections are being made between all the major river parks. Soon you will be able to make it from the San Xavier Mission to Fort Lowell Park and beyond without leaving The Loop. There are only a few sections remaining to complete before the 131 miles of paved paths will be done and all the river parks connected.

One of our most recent successes was the completion of the Julian Wash along the southern edge of our metropolitan area. This 16-mile reach touches some of the region’s most stressed neighborhoods, including those with high incidences of diabetes and other serious

health issues. And families along the Julian Wash are taking advantage of this wonderful amenity. Parents are walking their kids to school, employees are riding their bikes along the Julian to the Science and Tech Park on the far east side, and others are making their way downtown. The Safe Routes to School Program has been working with the Sunnyside School District to teach their students about safe bicycling.

It took great vision and commitment from not only the region’s elected officials, but many, many citizens, public servants, engineers and contractors who worked diligently throughout the years to come to the point where the dream of a multi-use, family-friendly trail surrounding our region is nearly realized. The 2014 Loop Annual Report shares The Loop’s story to date and celebrates your success in building this local treasure. Enjoy it, and if you haven’t been on The Loop lately, give it a try. You might just find it becomes a regular part of your life.

Sincerely,

Chuck Huckelberry County Administrator

Tanque Verde Wash

Pantano Wash


George MehlFamily

Foothills Park

Ft. LowellPark


Park

FlowingWells Park Curtis

Park

Rillito RegionalPark and

Rillito RacetrackDan Felix

Memorial Park

Kory LaosFreestyleBMX Park Rio Vista

Park

Santa Cruz River

Memorial Garden, Kids on a Horse sculpture,

Kids on a bench reading a book sculptureArtist(s) unknown, Date unknown

The Vanishing orA Midsummer’s Night Dream

Rebecca Thompson, 2010

Rillito River Walk SeatingRebecca Thompson, 2008

Omni PrimoArtist: Unknown

Completed: unknown

La PuertaRebecca Thompson,

2007

Hard TimesDavid Flynn, 2007

Agave WallsVicki Scuri, 2011

Re�ectionsDavid Flynn, 2009

A Gneiss Bench to Sit OnChris Tanz, 2009

Sun CirclePaul T. Edwards, Susan Holman,

Chris Tanz, 1994

The Magic CarpetNicholas Burke,

Completed: unknown

Rillito HawksJoseph Lupiani, 2011

Gateway Arch at MountainEric Lee Cooper, 1997

Alvernon Way Bridge fromFort Lowell to River Road

Barbara Grygutis, 2007

Marble WatersRobin Riley, 2008

Rillito River

Cañada del Oro

INA ROAD

TANQUE VERDE ROAD

ORANGE GROVE ROAD

PRINCE ROAD

ORAC

LE RO

AD

SUNRISE DRIVE

CLOUD ROAD

Parks adjacent to The Loop

Art installations along The Loop

Completed and plannedpath segments

Scale in Miles

0 2.01.0

Weekends on the Rillito River Park are populated with many cyclists who often visit the Heirloom Farmers Market.

The Heirloom Farmers Market every Sunday is one of the most popular attractions on The Loop.

2

3

The Nessinger Family is one of many who have discovered that families who Loop together have fun together. Tim and Carolyn hit the Rillito River Park Loop section weekly pulling 6-year-old Cheyenne in a bike trailer while 13-year-old Cassandra motors under her own pedal power.

“Exercise is the goal,” Tim said, “but it is more. It is so peaceful out there, you don’t have to worry about traffic and usually the other people on The Loop are really friendly and polite. It is beautiful to see trees and changes of scenery – you see the city then the farms back by Alvernon and Dodge. You have a visual history of how Tucson has changed.”

The Rillito River Park may be the most popular segment of The Loop. It has the most parks, the most public art and the most shaded areas. It also has the Heirloom Farmers Market each weekend, which draws hundreds of visitors to the Rillito Regional Park pavilion to buy locally grown foods. The north bank path is complete, and while the south bank has gaps at the Tucson Mall and between Country Club Road and Dodge Boulevard, it is definitely the way to go. It easily connects to the Santa Cruz River path by traveling under Interstate 10.

“Our favorite stretch happens to be along the Rillito west of the Tucson Mall (but)… We’re happy to know that Pima County is still working to extend it even farther and make connections that will make it possible to ride a bike across the entire community without ever having to contend with cars. It’s truly an enchanting experience.”

Best Bike Riding, 2013 Best of Tucson, Tucson Weekly

Rillito

BY THE NUMBERS:

15 art installations

1 weekly farmers market

25.4 miles paved

0.2 miles to be paved

10 public parks

DID YOU KNOW? The Loop safety campaign that was modeled after the Burma Shave signs from the 1920s through the 1960s began on this section of The Loop.

4

AJO WAY

STARR PASS

SPEEDWAY BLVD.

BROADWAY BLVD.

PRINCE ROAD

GRANT ROAD

TANGERINE ROAD

SILVERBELL

EL CAMINO DEL CERRO

TWIN PEAKS ROADAVRA VALLEY ROAD

SAND

ERS

INA ROAD

ORANGE GROVE ROAD

CORTARO FARMS ROAD

SUNSET ROAD

SWEETWATER ROAD

Cañada

del

Oro

Santa Cruz River

Santa Cruz River

Gladden FarmsNeighborhood Park

MaranaHeritage

Park

El RioPark

Crossroads atSilverbell District Park

Mike JacobSports Park

Ted Walker Park

Wade McLeanPark

SweetwaterWetlands

Christopher Columbus Park

SilverbellGolf Course

SentinelPeak Park Verdugo

Park

Santa Cruz Park

El Rio Golf Course

Joaquin MurrietaPark

Juan Juhan Park

Garden of GethsemaneFelix Lucero, 1945 Sentinel Plaza

Joy Fox, Andrew Rush,Chuck Sternberg, Judith Stewart,

Bob Vint, 2004

Santa Cruz GatewaySusan Gamble, 1992

Columbus ParkEntryway Public ArtGreg Schoon, 2011

29TH ST.




Scale in Miles

0 2.01.0

Rillito River

VALENCIA ROAD

IRVINGTON ROAD

DREXEL ROAD

SAN XAVIER ROADMission

San Xavierdel Bac

El Corazon deLos Tres Rios Park

Matt Stoner’s favorite section of The Loop is a seven-mile stretch of the Santa Cruz River Park between Grant Road and El Camino del Cerro. “I love to see all the beauty of the wetlands there,” he said, referring to the Sweetwater Wetlands behind Tres Rios Plant. “The pavement is great, and you can just enjoy nature.” Stoner rides both the Santa Cruz and Rillito River Park sections of The Loop during his twice-weekly commute to work at the University of Arizona Medical Center. “I took up cycling three years ago and like riding The Loop because I don’t have to deal with cars,” he said. “This is a great community resource.”

Pima County closed a gap in The Loop path along the east bank of the Santa Cruz River in January 2014, making it possible for bicyclists and pedestrians to travel between Ina Road and Silverlake Road – more than 13 miles – and cross only two streets at-grade: Congress Street and El Camino del Cerro. Underpasses on the route allow car-free travel at Silverlake Road, Starr Pass Boulevard, St. Mary’s Road, Speedway Boulevard and Grant Road.

Also in January 2014, an intergovernmental agreement was reached in which the City of Tucson granted easements to Pima County and the Regional Flood Control District to provide maintenance of The Loop and flood control infrastructure on land owned or controlled by the City. This allowed path repairs, repavements and improvements along approximately 11 miles of the west bank of the Santa Cruz Loop path from Cañada del Oro Wash to Silverlake Road.

“Situated in the lush Sonoran Desert and surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson is a favorite city for riders. Bicycle events here are plentiful, while key rides include those around The Loop, a multi-use trail developed around Tucson/Pima County.”

10 Best Bike Friendly Cities, USA Today, July 2014

5

Santa C

ruz

BY THE NUMBERS:

4 art installations

39.15 miles paved


15 public parks

2 golf courses

DID YOU KNOW? The paths along the Santa Cruz are The Loop’s closest connection to downtown. They also connect to the Sweetwater Wetlands, Mike Jacob Sports Park and the Silverbell Golf Course.

Harrison Greenway (2015)Julian Wash Gr eenway

Kino SportsComplex

Willie BlakePark


Park

Thomas JayRegional Park

Augie AcuñaLos Niños Park



Trails Park

Purple HeartPark

Kino EnvironmentalRestoration Project

Sam Lena Park

BravoPark

Santa Cruz River

Pantano WashSant

a Cruz Riv

er

GOLF LINKS ROAD

VALENCIA ROAD

DREXEL ROAD

IRVINGTON ROAD

AJO WAY

KOLB

ROAD

29TH ST.

Roy SchoonoverTrailhead

Joining HandsChris Tanz, 2011




Scale in Miles

0 2.01.0

With nearly 15 miles of paved path, the Julian Wash is a favorite among cyclists who want a wide open ride.

The Roy Schoonover Trailhead, named for the late cycling advocate, is near the south end of the Julian Wash Greenway.

6

Every Wednesday, John Daniel Teran bikes all of the Julian Wash Greenway while pulling his 2-year-old daughter and 8-month-old son in a bike trailer. He starts at Rita Ranch Road and then goes up to Kino Park, which is one of the four parks along the Greenway. “I started doing this when you completed the Julian Wash connection at Drexel and I-10,” he explained on The Loop Facebook page.

The Julian Wash lies between the Santa Cruz River and Rita Road and connects to many outstanding cultural and community assets, including the Kino Sports Complex, the Augie Acuña Los Niños Park, the Southern Arizona Veteran Affairs Health Care System and the Julian Wash Archaeological Park. Construction on the Greenway began in 1996 and the community celebrated the completion of the final 2.7-mile segment on November 1, 2014.

The final segment was funded by the Community Healthcare Benefit Foundation of Pima County with support from the Tucson Medical Center and Carondelet Health Network, demonstrating the reach of The Loop and community efforts to improve health and fitness in our region.

“We get closer and closer all the time to a fully-realized path around Tucson, but even now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that there are miles and miles of well-maintained paths to enjoy. Recommended: the southern portion of The Loop along the Julian Wash Greenway.” Best Bike Riding, 2014 Best of Tucson, Tucson Weekly

Julian

Wash

BY THE NUMBERS:

3 schools use the Julian Wash Greenway as an outdoor classroom

1 art installation

16.1 miles paved

1 museum

7 public parks

DID YOU KNOW?The giant sun-tracking panels at the University of Arizona Tech Park’s Solar Zone are located on this section of The Loop.

7

Tanque Verde Wash

Pantano Wash

Harrison Greenway

(2015)

J ulian Wash Greenway

AbrahamLincoln

Park

Ft. Lowell Park Morris K. UdallRegional Center

Michael Perry Park

Stefan GollobPark


Trails Park

Rillito River

Soccer Players MosaicGreg Schoon, 2010

Re�ectionsDavid Flynn, 2009

Tohono O’odham WomanMark Rossi, 1988

Batty BikerStephen Fair�eld, 2015

Michael A. Perry Memorial ParkJason Butler and Hiro Tashima, 2011

CRAYCROFT ROAD

HARRISON ROAD

GOLF LINKS ROAD

BROADWAY BLVD.

SPEEDWAY BLVD.

GRANT ROAD




Scale in Miles

0 2.01.0 IRVINGTON

The Pantano Wash is popular with walkers due to its peacefulness, diverse landscape and chances to see wildlife.

Users of The Loop have frequent places to rest on all sections of the multi-use trail, including this shady spot on the Pantano Wash section.

8

9

Theresa Beaty and Brenda Simpson can’t always get together during the week for walks, so the sisters each go it alone in their respective neighborhoods. But on Saturdays, they meet to walk together for an hour or more along the Pantano section of The Loop, spying coyotes, rabbits and other assorted wildlife along the way. “It’s a change from walking in our neighborhood,” Beaty said. “It’s peaceful and you don’t have to worry about car traffic. We love it!”

Ryan and Ganae Tripp are also devotees of The Loop’s Pantano section. They live near the entrance to Michael Perry Park, only a couple dozen steps away from the path. They enjoy daily walks on it with their four-legged family members, Ellie and Daisy.

The Pantano is the “baby” of The Loop, with its first sections built in 2004. It is the most likely spot on The Loop that you’ll see horses and their human companions, and is also popular with cyclists. Key gaps will be completed in 2015, including an underpass at Broadway Boulevard and the installation of a bridge over the 5th Street Wash. The latter project will allow users along the Pantano’s east bank to cross the 5th Street Wash. Further improvements will complete connections between the Pantano and the Rillito River Park Loop sections, resulting in a continuous multi-use pathway that will provide recreation, exercise and alternative transportation for area residents wanting to travel between the Rillito River and the Pantano Wash.

“Went to the open house last night (Pantano Wash project) and am really impressed with how county officials work so hard to look out for the best interest of park-goers, property owners, and the environment. Thanks!”

Karen Paton Frye, on The Loop Facebook page

Pan

tano

BY THE NUMBERS:

1 riparian habitat

5 art installations

8 miles paved


6 public parks

DID YOU KNOW? Fantasy Island, a popular mountain-biking trails park, is located on this section of The Loop.

9

Cañad

a del Oro

Santa Cruz River

Arthur PackRegional Park


Ted Walker Park

Northwest YMCAPima County


Community Park

Cañada del OroRiverfront Park

Christina-TaylorGreen Memorial

River Park


El Corazon de Los Tres Rios Park

Coronado NationalForest

CatalinaStatePark

LAMBERT LANE

HARDY ROAD

INA ROAD

ORACLE ROAD

LA CA

ÑADA

ROAD

THOR

NYDA

LE RO

AD

SUNRISE ROAD

Ethan Crossing Trailhead

Steam Pump RanchParks adjacent to The Loop



Scale in Miles

0 2.01.0

Quail MuralBarbara McKee, 2013

10

The Cañada del Oro section of The Loop is one of the “Loop links” connecting outlying com-munities with Tucson through The Loop.

Margie Shiffman, left, walks her dog Meg with Celestine Landrum on The Loop near the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial River Park.

Were it not for her real estate agent, Brenda Pearson might never have known about The Loop. “We were relocated for my husband’s job and when we were looking for homes, our agent – who knew I did triathlons – mentioned The Loop as being nearby,” Pearson said. “I like training on it because when you’re doing speed or endurance training, you don’t want to be stopped by the traffic lights on the road. You don’t want to be interrupted when you’re running!”

Brenda often runs the Cañada del Oro segment of The Loop with Maureen Perkins, another recent transplant to the area. They’re preparing for an upcoming Ironman competition and their runs range from 12 to 20 miles along the scenic route. “It’s really nice,” Maureen said, adding that they enjoy seeing snakes, bobcats and coyotes during their workouts.

The Town of Oro Valley completed a 0.6-mile segment of The Loop along the Cañada del Oro Wash from First Avenue to Steam Pump Ranch in 2014, creating a 5.4-mile paved stretch from La Cañada Drive to Tangerine Road. In 2015, the County Regional Flood Control District will connect the path along the Cañada del Oro Wash from Thornydale Road to the path along the west side of the Interstate 10 frontage road, allowing travelers along the Cañada del Oro Wash Loop section to reach all other Loop segments. Planned for 2016 is closure of The Loop gap between La Cholla Boulevard and La Cañada Drive, creating a nearly 11-mile stretch from the I-10 frontage road to Tangerine Road.

“Scan enough lists of popular biking cities and you’ll begin to notice that many of the top spots are places subject to rain and/or cold weather. Who wants to bike in that? Tucson’s year-round warm weather, combined with its 700 miles of designated bike paths make it an ideal cycling city for diehards and dalliers alike.”

The 10 Best Cities in the U.S. for People Who Love To Ride, Bustle.com, June 2014

BY THE NUMBERS:

1 Community College campus

1 art installation

8.1 miles paved


3 public parks

DID YOU KNOW? The Christina-Taylor Green Memorial River Park and the Catalina State Park in the Coronado National Forest are located on this section of The Loop.

Cañ

ada d

el Oro

11

12

The late Roy Schoonover was a tireless advocate for a multi-use trail around Tucson.

Norm Land

Employees from across County departments come together monthly to plan for events on The Loop and make sure construction projects stay on task.

It takes a large maintenance crew to keep up with maintaining The Loop’s landscaping.Bill Adamson

Sue Clark Steve Anderson

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The Loop Champions – Getting the River Parks ConnectedThe Tucson region’s long history of flooding drove the creation of our River Park system, which became the backbone of The Loop. The worst of the floods was in 1983, when between 6 ½ to 7 ½ inches of rain fell across the Tucson basin over five days. Four people died in flood-related incidents from the 1983 event, and public infrastructure damage was estimated at $64 million. After this natural disaster, Pima County spent millions stabilizing the banks of the Rillito, Pantano and Santa Cruz rivers to protect our community.

While nature was the driving force behind the bank stabilization that led to the River Parks, people were the driving force behind what eventually became The Loop. It took vision, tenacity, and a lot of people working hard together to bring this Southern Arizona treasure to where it is today. From planning and design to construction and maintenance, thousands have contributed to the development of this 100+ mile linear park.

Visionaries like Pima County trails expert Steve Anderson and Sue Clark of the Pima Trails Association saw the potential of an urban loop around the metropolitan area and painted the picture for the rest of us. Avid cyclists Roy Schoonover, Norm Land and Bill Adamson carried the torch of that vision to elected officials and other regional leaders, including County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. They garnered unanimous support from these individuals, the region’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and many others.

And the work of The Loop continues today. Hundreds of dedicated county employees, volunteers from groups like the Bike Ambassadors and El Grupo, and even individuals who simply love The Loop attend meetings, make phone calls, clean bathrooms, sweep sand off the path, and hand out bike bells and helmets to the youngest of Loop users. Construction workers, landscapers, school children, retirees, bicyclists, walkers, equestrians and bird watchers are the unsung heroes of The Loop. These folks do the dirty work to make it one of Pima County’s most special places. They are our champions.

14

Visitors to the Southern Arizona Veteran’s Affairs Health Care building can get to appoint-ments by riding The Loop.

Loop users frequently purchase shopping baskets such as these in which to carry their wares home.

On Saturdays, riders of the Cañada del Oro section of The Loop visit a farmers market in Oro Valley, demonstrating how The Loop is where Pima County residents live, work, shop, learn and play.

15

With nearly 750,000 visitors a year, The Loop is one of the most used parks in Arizona.On a typical weekday, more than 2,000 people use the Loop to travel to and from work and school, to recreate, and to enjoy the beautiful Sonoran Desert. On weekends, more than 5,000 people use it. In 2013, Pima County completed The Loop Economic, Environmental, Community and Health Impact Study. In the nearly two years since the report was completed, more than 20 miles of new asphalt paths have been added to this shared-use path, bringing its total paved area to just more than 100 miles. Eventually, The Loop will reach 131 miles around metropolitan Pima County, providing a linear park system unequaled in the Southwestern United States.

Not only has The Loop grown, but so has the body of knowledge related to the economic, environmental, community and health impacts covered in the 2013 report. And the research clearly supports and expands the basis for investing in this type of infrastructure.

Transportation was once the heart of a city’s prosperity. Sitting on the right freeway exit ramp or rail line was enough to guarantee generations of successful businesses. Globalization has ended that guarantee. Now, the natural resources that keep cities competitive are residents with know-how. Cities and businesses prosper by attracting and retaining people with talent and skills that fit the specialized niches the global economy needs. And this talent pool wants more than a fast freeway.

In fact, for a rising generation of workers who’ve grown up amid urban rebounds such as what we’re experiencing here in Southern Arizona, traffic jams and office complexes are the last places they want to spend time. That’s why companies that rely on young talent are increasingly seeking to locate in regions with good biking and walking facilities. These appealing transportation options give workers the commutes they prefer.

However, the advantages of bicycling and walking reach beyond transportation. Savings in fuel costs, a smaller carbon footprint and a practical way to achieve recommended levels of physical activity are among the benefits that make The Loop an irresistible all-in-one package. Additionally, businesses that locate along cycling and walking paths become go-to places for a growing population interested in doing their shopping via foot or bicycle.

Providing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure for the purposes of commuting, recreation, fitness and family outings is arguably more important than ever before. Continued expansion of The Loop is creating jobs for engineers, construction workers, designers and workers who produce construction materials. For every dollar invested in The Loop, the community receives more than $9 in benefits.

The Loop is a regional asset, like our weather and beautiful vistas. It helps attract and retain high-wage employers, improves the value of adjacent lands, enhances the quality of life and health for our community, generates revenue and improves the tax base, providing a growing source of income for the entire region. And it brings us all together, connecting residents of Pima County to the places where we live, work, shop, learn and play.

Construction workers level ground before the paved path is laid on the Paseo de las Iglesias section of The Loop.

The Loop uses underpasses to help cyclists and pedestrians cross under major streets safely.

Expanding The Loop is a top priority for Pima County. Here workers construct gabions near the Paseo de las Iglesias, which is the newest section of The Loop.

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Looking ahead...The Loop hit a major milestone by completing its 100th mile in 2014. But we’re not finished counting miles yet. In 2015, The Loop will be extended more than 12 miles with various improvements offering Loop users an amazing outdoor experience.

The Pantano River Park will be completed from Tanque Verde Road to Fort Lowell Park and with two projects from Speedway Boulevard south to Kenyon Drive. These developments will complete the nine-mile Pantano River Park. Be sure to see the Batty Biker sculpture north of the new Broadway underpass!

The Harrison Greenway, which connects the Pantano River Park to the Julian Wash Greenway, will also be completed in 2015, adding seven miles to The Loop. This section will also enable off-street access for mountain bikers to reach Fantasy Island trails from almost anywhere in the metropolitan area.

The region’s earliest Loop section, the Santa Cruz River Park, will have two additions. The first is a one-mile segment from Irvington Road south to Valencia Road, connecting The Loop from just north of the Mission San Xavier del Bac to downtown Tucson. Walkers, skaters, bicyclists and equestrians on this segment can enjoy the new Paseo de las Iglesias Park this summer. This connection between the Julian Wash Greenway and the Santa Cruz River Park is part of a 198-acre environmental restoration project. Users can spend time immersed in Tucson’s natural and cultural heritage.

The second addition to the Santa Cruz River Park is a connection to Cañada del Oro (CDO) River Park. There will be a paved path along the CDO Wash south bank from I-10 to Thornydale Road, including underpasses at I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad and a multi-use bridge over the Carmack Wash. Once complete, this nearly one-mile section will enable the CDO path users to reach all other Loop segments.

Pavement preservation will continue on the Santa Cruz River Park with additional landscaping adjacent to the Sweetwater Wetlands. These improvements will provide additional amenities for birders and other environmental enthusiasts in the Wetlands area.

Expect to see more merchants linking to customers along The Loop, and more vendors on The Loop. A lot will be happening on The Loop in 2015, so to stay ‘in the loop’ on The Loop, check out our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ridetheloop.

CoronadoNational

Forest

CoronadoNational

Forest

Sabino Canyon National

Recreation Area

SaguaroNational

Park

SaguaroNational

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TucsonMountain

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IRVINGTON

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VALENCIA

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On-street segment

INA

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Completed Path

Under Design or Construction

Future ProjectScale in Miles

0 2.01.0.5 4.0



Park Rillito RegionalPark and

Rillito Racetrack


Kory Laos MemorialFreestyle BMX Park

Sun Circle

Rio Vista Park

FlowingWells Park

Curtis Park

Northwest YMCAPima County


Community ParkChristina-TaylorGreen Memorial

River Park

ArthurPack

RegionalPark

CatalinaStatePark

Cañada del OroRiverfront Park

Gladden FarmsNeighborhood

Park

El RioPark

WadeMcLean

Park

MaranaHeritage

Park

Crossroadsat SilverbellDistrict Park


TedWalker

Park

Christopher Columbus Park

SilverbellGolf Course

George MehlFamily Foothills

Park

SweetwaterWetlands

Santa Cruz Park

El Rio Golf Course

JoaquinMurrieta Park

Juhan Park

Ft. Lowell Park

Morris K.Udall Regional

Center

TumamocHill

Sentinel Peak Park

Garden ofGethsemene


Park

Augie AcuñaLos Niños

Park

Randolph Golf Course

Gene C. Reid Park

KERP (KinoEnvironmental

Restoration Project)

AviationGolf LinksPathway

Kino SportsComplex

Willie BlakePark

AbrahamLincoln

Park


Trails Park

RoySchoonover

Trailhead


MichaelPerry Park

StefanGollob

Park

Paseode los

Arboles

Paseode las

Iglesias

Sam LenaPark

Thomas JayRegional Park

CAÑADAdel ORO

SANTACRUZ

JULIANWASH

RILLITO

PANTANO

Pima County AdministratorChuck Huckelberry

Pima County Board of SupervisorsSharon Bronson, Chair, District 3Ally Miller, District 1Ramón Valadez, District 2Ray Carroll, District 4Richard Elías, District 5