|
US 60 (Grand Avenue) is an urban arterial roadway connecting several communities in the West Valley including Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West, Youngtown, El Mirage and Surprise. It is also a vital link in the statewide highway system, connecting metro Phoenix with Las Vegas and Interstate 15.
Traffic projections from the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) predict the typical weekday daily traffic volume on some segments of Grand Avenue to double between 2006 and 2025.
Funding is now in place to make a number of improvements to US 60 (Grand Avenue) and other Valley roadways as part of a 20-year Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The plan was spearheaded by MAG through an extensive public-input process to identify regional transportation priorities and was approved by voters in November 2004 through Proposition 400. Funding for the plan became effective in January 2006.
The RTP identifies a series of improvement projects along US 60 (Grand Avenue) between Loop 303 and McDowell Road, including the addition of general purpose lanes, grade separations (underpasses and overpasses) and other improvements. The implementation of these projects will span the current 20-year program and beyond.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is charged with implementing the highway component of the plan, which includes $9 billion in new freeways, freeway improvements and maintenance.
The RTP was originally divided into four phases, based on forecasts of when the funding was anticipated to be available for those improvements. Responding to federal transportation planning requirements, the RTP is being extended through 2031 by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) to maintain a 20-year planning horizon. As a result, a fifth phase has been added to the RTP, covering the period from 2026 through 2031. Consistent with federal planning guidelines, funding for transportation projects is based on revenue sources that are considered to be reasonably available for the planning period. According to MAG, this assumes that for planning purposes funding sources with a long history of providing funding in the past will continue into the future.
In fall 2009, due to declining sales tax revenues and decreases in other transportation revenue sources to fund improvements, MAG recommended that some future projects be deferred to later phases of the RTP.
As a result, some future improvements to Grand Avenue between Loop 101 and Van Buren Street - including grade separations - were deferred to Phase V (2026-2031) of the RTP.
As part of the planning process, project costs and funding levels are continuously monitored, and the RTP is periodically updated to take advantage of cost savings or changes in the transportation revenue outlook. According to MAG planners, this can result in the acceleration of projects that were formerly deferred. For more information about RTP projects deferred to Phase V in the MAG tentative scenario, please visit the MAG Web site.
Planned Improvements
Current Studies
 |
Our Valley Freeway System is part of the 2004 voter-approved Regional Transportation Plan. We are working hard with our transit partners to implement the voters’ vision and are committed to quality, safety, open communication with our neighbors, and minimal inconvenience to the traveling public. |
|
