Title
Downtown North-South Bikeway Study Update - Districts 7 & 8
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee an update on the Downtown North-South Bikeway Study on 3rd Street from Lincoln Street to Roosevelt Street.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
At the May 21, 2025 Subcommittee meeting, a member of the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee requested the Street Transportation Department (Department) provide an update on the Downtown North-South Bikeway Study.
In 2014, the City of Phoenix published its first Bicycle Master Plan which identified and prioritized 39 potential bicycle corridors to focus future active transportation infrastructure investments within the City of Phoenix. Among those active transportation corridors, 3rd Street between Indian School Road and Buckeye Road, approximately 4.5 miles, was ranked as the highest active transportation corridor in the plan.
Since 2014, the most notable upgrades along the 3rd Street corridor occurred from Roosevelt Street to Indian School Road from 2021 through 2023 with the addition of protected bike lanes, connected sidewalks, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps, landscaping upgrades, pedestrian hybrid beacons, and shade structures. Referred to as the 3rd Street Improvement Project, this project completed 2.5 miles of the highest ranked active transportation corridor.
The Downtown North-South Bikeway Study Phase 1 was initiated in 2022 to identify a connector route for the active transportation network in the downtown core while considering downtown development, expansion of the light rail system, and the evolving needs of vulnerable road users including people who walk, ride bicycles, or use micromobility devices such as e-bikes or e-scooters. The study area was bounded by Lincoln Street to the south, Roosevelt Street to the north, Central Avenue to the west, and 7th Street to the east. The study evaluated traffic impacts, parking impacts, corridor directness, serving destinations, event impacts, and implementation barriers while also considering community input. The results of the study confirmed that 3rd Street was the preferred route in the downtown core with 1st Street being selected as an alternate route during special event days. Ultimately, the study produced a conceptual design, referred to as Concept 1, that included the following:
- Vertical protection (concrete curbs) is used on the entire corridor.
- Mountable curb islands.
- Sidewalk level bikeway (between Washington and Monroe Streets).
- Railroad signal and active device modification.
- Conversion of 3rd Street to two-way travel.
- Traffic signal modifications to provide for two-way travel and bicycle exclusive signals.
- Microsurfacing, paint, and signage.
- 1st Street alternate route improvements (paint and signage).
- Bikeway detour route dynamic message signs.
The cost of this concept was estimated at $17 million.
During the study, adjacent stakeholders along 3rd Street expressed concern with the recommended design concept as the vertical elements and reconfiguration of the street impacted event ingress and egress as well as activation of the streets for events. To address these concerns, the Department initiated Phase 2 of the study in summer 2025 and tasked the design consultant to develop an alternative concept that would address stakeholder concerns and be more cost-effective. No funding currently programmed for the final design and construction of these improvements.
The alternative concept, referred to as Concept 2, that was developed includes replacing the vertical elements with non-vertical elements. This approach includes parking-protected bike lanes, paint, and signage. This concept would have less impact on event activity and also reduces construction costs and timeline for implementation. The cost of this concept was estimated at $2.1 million.
The project design elements of Concept 2 include:
- Non-vertical solutions (mostly paint and signage) are used on the entire corridor.
- On-street parking and horizontal buffers for bike lane protection.
- Flex posts and short segments of modular raised bumps only at intersections and driveways.
- Lane and turn-lane removal.
- Microsurfacing, paint, and signage.
While removal of the vertical elements addressed some of the event activity concerns and the high construction costs of Concept 1, there are still concerns with how the removal of travel lanes and left-turn lanes impacts daily traffic. There is also concerns with how reconfiguration of the street impacts ingress and egress of existing garages with access on 3rd Street. In addition, there is extensive coordination needed with Union Pacific Railroad on required changes that are needed at or near their existing railroad crossing south of Jefferson Street.
For these reasons, staff recommends the following next steps:
- Modify limits of project to terminate at Jefferson Street.
- Additional traffic analysis of the lane and turn-lane removal.
- Additional stakeholder engagement to understand event activity impacts to refine design elements.
- Share updated design concept with Community.
Provided the updated design concept meets project goals, addresses stakeholder concerns, and reduces construction costs, the Department would explore funding opportunities to complete final design and construct the revised design Concept 2.
Location
3rd Street from Lincoln Street to Roosevelt Street
Council Districts: 7, 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Inger Erickson and the Street Transportation Department.