What’s happening with 5th/6th Street?
Over the years, we've received numerous emails and phone calls from people who live near 5th/6th Street about the challenges they face when walking across or along this urban corridor. We heard from a mom who used to regularly get across 6th Street from one side of her neighborhood to the other with her child in a stroller. We talked to a neighbor who lived right on 6th about the many fatal crashes that occurred near her home. She described crossing this street as a "death defying act" and shared that she would "love to make this area safe for pedestrians as well as cars," while adding that she would like to see a center turn lane.
Concerns about walking safety and comfort on 5th/6th Street initially came to our attention back in 2013, during our earliest Neighborhood Walkability Assessments when we were piloting the program with neighborhoods abutting the 5th/6th Street corridor. Having just launched a Pedestrian Safety and Comfort Campaign as a very young advocacy organization, and after a series of Neighborhood Walkability Assessments, we realized that there was a lot of interest in creating more walkable streets in Tucson and that we needed a funding source for pedestrian infrastructure improvements. That’s when we began to work with various jurisdictions in the Tucson Metro Region and put together a project package which we successfully advocated to be included in the 2015 Pima County bond initiative.
The project list was informed by what we were hearing on the ground from neighbors, such as the residents who lived near 5th/6th Street. The County-wide bond initiative—which had an $800-million price tag and included multiple projects under seven different proposals—ultimately failed at the ballot box, but the “shovel-ready” walkability projects—which constituted a small portion of the overall bond package—later made their way into the 2018 Proposition 407 Parks and Connections Bond which was approved by the City of Tucson voters. The 5th/6th Street Pedestrian Safety and Walkability project is among those and therefore has a special place in our hearts—and in LSA’s history—along with the 36th Street Pedestrian Safety and Walkability Project on the south side and the Roger Road Pedestrian Safety and Walkability Project in the Flowing Wells area, among a few others.
Currently, there are two separate projects focused on 5th/6th Street with different timelines, project managers, and public outreach/engagement processes. Does that sound confusing? Well, we agree, so let us try to break it down:
5th Street Reconstruction Project (Country Club to Wilmot): The first project involves reconstruction of 5th Street from Country Club to Wilmot through Prop 101, including roadway resurfacing, replacement of water lines, and new curb ramps compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). This project presents an opportunity to implement a road diet and add a center turn lane (as the neighbor we mentioned at the beginning of this post had requested nearly a decade ago). We will be sharing important updates about this project in the coming months so please stay tuned.
5th/6th Street Pedestrian Safety and Walkability (Campbell to Alvernon): The second project involves improvements to the walking environment through Prop 407, including complete sidewalks, ramps, lighting, enhanced street crossings, and new landscaping. Community engagement activities for this project are kicking off this month starting with a Department of Transportation and Mobility engagement station at Cyclovia and continuing with two additional open house events. (Visit the project website for more information and to take the survey.)
Upcoming Open Houses
Sunday, April 16, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Join us at Cyclovia Tucson at the Rincon Heights Neighborhood Hub!
9th Street between Warren Ave and Martin AveWednesday, April 19, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Himmel Park Ramada (by the west playground)
1000 N Tucson BlvdThursday, April 20, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Alvernon Park
701 N Longfellow Ave
We encourage you to stop by at one of these events and share your thoughts with the project team if you live, work or travel in this area. We’ll be sharing updates on both projects over the next several months to keep you in the loop about key engagement opportunities.
