With 1st Avenue redesign, an opportunity to do so much more than address traffic
(Above) Photo taken during a Neighborhood Walkability Assessment along 1st Avenue in 2012.
Back in 2012, Living Streets Alliance partnered with Keeling on the Move and Keeling Neighborhood to conduct a Neighborhood Walkability Assessment of the area, which was done again and finalized in 2016. In both cases, residents and folks from Living Streets Alliance spent a good amount of time walking through the neighborhood to see where walking was possible, where it was difficult, and to explore ways to make the neighborhood more hospitable for people on foot.
The photo above was a snapshot of a typical stretch of 1st Avenue at the time and little has changed since 2012. Back then, we observed a lot of foot and bike traffic despite conditions that put people in unsafe and vulnerable positions. Sidewalks ended abruptly, if they existed at all; curb ramps were infrequent and often obstructed by poles that made them impassable; there was little delineation between where the street ended and a sea of asphalt and parking began; tons of driveway aprons to cut off people on foot and bike; exposed and uncomfortable bus stops with no shelter; infrequent crosswalks and striping all but erased because of ware and tear; the list goes on and on. And, one things we rarely saw was shade, or plants, or greenery, making the microclimates along the corridor hot even in milder winter months.
No sidewalks and high fencing make people walking feel unwelcome and unwanted.
The sidewalk ends. Imagine being a person in a wheelchair, using a walker, or pushing a stroller: what would/could you do, turn around?
With no clearly marked space for people on foot, getting cut off by turning or backing-out cars becomes a real threat.
Infrequent crosswalks make traversing the street dangerous, even when it’s legal. Would you go out of your way the extra half mile to use a crosswalk when it’s 110 degrees out?
Thankfully, there’s finally an opportunity to do something about conditions along 1st Avenue from Grant to River Road. With funding from the RTA, the City of Tucson Department of Transportation & Mobility (DTM) is kicking off a Needs Assessment to explore and imagine a makeover of the corridor. And, unlike Broadway Boulevard or Grant Road, an option to not add additional traffic lanes is on the table. This is a big deal!
More travel lanes invite more traffic. That is a fact that has been proven in study after study. In other words, if you build more lanes, more cars will come and they will eventually fill up too. It’s called latent demand. A better and real solution? Make it safe, convenient, and dignified for people to travel in other ways; prioritize “mode shift.” This is exactly what the 4-Lane option could do: create shorter crossing distances and more frequent locations to cross the street; add shade and greenery; provide quality and ample space and accommodations for people on foot, bike, and taking the bus. This would simultaneously make it safer for people already traveling in those ways and make it more attractive for those would aren’t yet doing so.
Another key design element to incorporate: separated bicycle lanes. These ensure that people driving cars can’t accidentally veer into people riding bikes (and vice-versa); it eliminates the potential for that kind of crash/conflict, and it also provides even more buffer and cushion from traffic for people on foot.
Above: The separated bike lane on the right physically protects people on bikes from speeding car traffic.
The City of Tucson is eager to hear your preferences and priorities for the 1st Avenue corridor makeover. This is a major investment (from $73.2 up to $91.6 million!) and an opportunity to enhance safety along the corridor, reduce car dependency (and thereby combat climate change), improve access for more people, and create a joyful and dignified enviornment for people to experience. Visit the project website to learn more, and make sure to take the initial survey by clicking on the link below.