42 NOVEMBER 2022 By Avion Wick In September, the City of Phoenix Transportation Department proposed a change to Thomas Road from 48th St. to 52nd St. Currently, this section of Thomas Road has two westbound lanes and three eastbound lanes. The change would require removing an eastbound traffic lane and adding a bike lane on each side to create an equal number of lanes in both directions. Project Manager Marielle Brown shared a presentation with Option A or Option B, where Option A is no changes, and Option B is to remove the eastbound traffic lane and add bike lanes. “No matter the option picked, the city will repave the section of the road. It is just a matter of striping after repaving. This project is part of our Complete Street Policy. It requires we design streets with biking, transit, walking, and driving in mind,” Brown said. Traffic Engineering Supervisor Carl Langford explained that there would be a timing change to the street lights with either option, but it will have a minimal impact on traffic flow. “There will be a minor increase overall – the worst signal is about 3.5 seconds… depending on when you get caught by the light, you might experience a little more,” Langford said. Langford also stated that Option B would not affect any parking along that section of the roadway while they are repaving and afterward. A common concern of many attendees, who also said they are excited about the bike lanes, is that no buffer is proposed for Thomas between the traffic and new lanes. “On a paving project, there is no ability to add width to provide that buffer,” Bruce Littleton, Deputy Director of Traffic Services, said. “If it becomes a problem, we can certainly add a buffer… it’s a question for the public, whether there’s a bike lane or no bike lane.” If the project is approved, the process could begin as early as winter 2022. This renovation will also blend in with the City of Scottsdale Transportation Action Plan (TAP) on Thomas Road from 56th St. to 73rd St., where they are transitioning from Option A to Option B. According to the website, one of the main goals is to prioritize people, livability, and safety over vehicles and travel speeds, which was also a significant parallel to the presentation the City of Phoenix made to the public in September. ACMNA 56TH ST. PROJECT The update also connects to the ACMNA 56th St. Project, which is currently in the planning stages. This development spans from Camelback to Thomas Road and focuses on access for cyclists, pedestrians and children who attend the schools in the area. According to the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department website, proposed improvements include: • Six-foot bike lanes in both directions. • An 8x10 foot multi-use path for cyclists, families and pedestrians. • Fully completed sidewalks on the west side of 56th St. for safety and connectivity. • A 24” storm drain down 56th St. from Thomas Road to Camelback Road. • Low-water use trees for shade adjacent to the sidewalk and multi-use path. • Possible improvements to the existing roundabout at Exeter Blvd. • A proposed mid-block crossing near Veritas Prep. ACMNA Board Member Tristahn Schaub said that once the funds are confirmed, construction could start in 2024. Schaub described how introducing vegetation into a physical barrier between the road and the walkway could help with pedestrian safety and water runoff. These barriers are often referred to as bioswales, an area on roadways filled with vegetation with channels and slopes to control stormwater like a storm sewer does. “In the long term, we want separation with vegetation,” said Schaub, “the vision we have here is a walkable corridor.” The department held a public meeting on October 25 to discuss the design with the public and to get feedback on what the local community desires. Cyclist and pedestrian safety coming to Thomas Road Unbalanced roadway • no bike lanes Balanced roadway • bike lanes • minimal traffic impacts OPTION A: NO CHANGES OPTION B: BALANCED TRAFFIC/BIKE LANES Stay tuned for an update on the 56th St. Project in an upcoming edition of Arcadia News ! CITY OF PHOENIX Happy Thanksgiving From the Arcadia News T H E XAVIER EFFECT Young Women Always Take Center Stage For More Information Visit xcp.org Dates to Remember! Admissions Placement Exam Sat., Dec.3, 2022 | 7:30 a.m. Sat., Dec.10, 2022 | 7:30 a.m. Registration for exam and application information at xcp.org . 9th Grade applications are due Mon., Jan. 9, 2023 . Affording a Xavier Education Financial Aid Workshops available to interested parents during the Entrance Exam Testing. Sat., Dec.3, 2022 | 7:30 a.m. Sat., Dec.10, 2022 | 7:30 a.m.

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