ScottsdaleAZ.Gov

The City of Scottsdale Transportation Department is considering widening Palo Verde Drive just west of Miller Road to improve safety and drainage, and provide a paved area for pedestrians and bicyclists. Based on the feedback we received from area residents at the public meeting held last December and by phone calls and email, Transportation staff developed four options to improve Palo Verde.  The options include minor widening with a sidewalk along both sides of the street, minor widening with a sidewalk along the north side of the street, minor widening with a sidewalk along the south side of the street or no improvements to Palo Verde Drive.

Background - Palo Verde Drive

•Palo Verde Drive is approximately one-half mile in length from Scottsdale Road to Miller Road.
•From Scottsdale Road to 74th Street, (1320 feet,) Palo Verde is approximately 40 feet wide with sidewalk on both sides of the street.
•For the next one-eighth of a mile, (660 feet,) Palo Verde has curb, gutter, and sidewalk only on the south side.  The north side is mostly unimproved, (no curb, gutter or sidewalk) and the street is approximately 26 feet wide at the narrowest section.
•Where Palo Verde connects to Miller on the eastern end (the last 660 feet,) the street is unimproved on both sides, with no curb, gutter or sidewalk.  The street is approximately 17 feet wide.
•Scottsdale is proposing to improve Palo Verde Drive by widening the narrow section near Miller Road by approximately five feet. The improvements could also include the addition of a sidewalk, most likely on the south side of the street.
 

Benefits

•The extra street width would allow two vehicles to pass each other on Palo Verde more safely.
•The extra street would provide more room for vehicles when making turns from Palo Verde and Miller Road.
•The curb and gutter would help control storm water that travels east on Palo Verde and then heads north on Miller Road.
•Sidewalk would connect the existing sidewalk on Palo Verde to Miller Road.  This would improve the safety for pedestrians since they would no longer have to walk on the street or on the shoulder.

Other things to consider

•Some area residents prefer the more rural appearance of this section of Palo Verde.
•Some area residents feel street improvements are not necessary.

Preferred option based on feedback

 
An open house was held in August 2010.  Based upon feedback the city has received a preferred option has been identified-widening with sidewalk on the south side.  A final decision has not yet been made.

Click here to see the preferred option PaloVerdeOption2

Staff Contacts

Contact Jennifer Bohac: 480-312-7517, jbohac@scottsdaleaz.gov or Phil Kercher: 480-312-7645, pkercher@scottsdaleaz.gov with questions or feedback.