> Home > Transportation > Pima Road Improvements Home > Project History and Next Steps

Project History and Next Steps

Pima Road Progress Logo 

Funding


 PimaRdImprovementMapImprovements to Pima Road have been under consideration and discussion for many years.  As part of funding from the voter approved valleywide 2004 Regional Transportation Plan (Proposition 400), an agreement was reached among the City of Scottsdale (COS), the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to conduct an environmental study of the Pima Road corridor and to develop a design concept for possible improvements to Pima Road.

Pima Road Study

In May of 2007, a study began to develop a Design Concept Report for Pima Road from McDowell Road on the south to 90th Street at Via Linda on the north. The report identified and addressed issues affecting the Pima Road Corridor, such as:
  • Expected future increases in traffic
  • Improvements to north-south circulation
  • Improvements for business access in the corridor
  • If/how to accommodate multi-modal access (bus, bikes, etc.)
  • Possible enhancements to the corridor look and character
  • How to safeguard adjacent neighborhoods and community resources
The study also resulted in an environmental document that considered and evaluated a variety of environmental conditions, such as:
  • Social
  • Economics
  • Natural Resources
  • Cultural Resources
  • Air Quality
  • Noise

Project Objectives


The purpose of the study is to develop a Design Concept Report (DCR) for Pima Road from McDowell Road on the south to 90th Street at Via Linda on the north. This report will identify and address many of the issues affecting the Pima Road Corridor, such as:
  • Increasing traffic flows
  • Improve north-south circulation
  • Improve business access
  • Accommodate multi-modal access (bus, bikes, etc.)
  • Enhance corridor character
  • Safeguard adjacent neighborhoods and community resources
The study will also result in the production of an environmental document that will study and evaluate the following environmental conditions, among others:
  • Social
  • Economics
  • Natural Resources
  • Cultural Resources
  • Air Quality
  • Noise

Recommended Alternative

In May 2009, three roadway alternative options were suggested and presented at public meetings. Following significant analysis, an alternative was selected that includes four 11-foot travel lanes, two 5-foot bike lanes, and a 14-foot median. Additional purchase of land for right-of-way will not be needed.

The preferred alternative was presented at public meetings in October 2009. Additional information, including the detailed Design Concept Report and the information boards presented at public meetings are available on this site.

Purpose and Need



What Does Purpose and Need Mean?

Proposed projects of this type that spend public money begin by asking three fundamental questions:

  • Why? What is the basic problem or deficiency with the existing situation, and why is it a problem?
  • Why here? Why does this problem need to be addressed here and why is it important?
  • Why now? Why does the problem need to be addressed now? What could happen if the problem was not addressed now?

Need for Project

The study determined that there is a need to improve the operation of Pima Road based on the following:

  • Need to accommodate current and future local and regional traffic
  • Improve safety associated with left turn movements
  • Consolidate access points to improve safety along the corridor
  • Meet City of Scottsdale and Salt River Pima; Maricopa Indian Community general plans recommendations

Additional opportunities presented with the project:

  • Incorporate multi-modal transportation; transit, pedestrian and on-street bike lanes
  • Enhance the look and character of the corridor; combine the culture and history of the two communities

The traffic modeling performed by the Maricopa Association of Governments and the City of Scottsdale shows that there will be a significant increase in number of vehicles traveling Pima Road by 2030.

Traffic Volumes

All portions of Pima Road included in this study, as well as most east-west streets are expected to see a significant increase in traffic volumes by 2030.
 
For example, the existing traffic volume on Pima Road, north of McDowell Road, is currently about 8,800 vehicles per day. The projected volume for that same segment of Pima Road in 2030 is anticipated to be 14,000 vehicles; 59 percent more vehicles than the number currently traveling that segment.

Project Pages