68th Street Bike Lanes

Planning
Design
Construction
Completed

Project Overview

This project made a series of improvements to 68th Street between Indian School Road and Thomas Road with the goal of improving safety, connectivity, and the quality of life for residents, students and visitors by completing critical north/south regional bike lanes on this major roadway.

The project reduced the four-lane roadway to two lanes and add bike lanes, pedestrian improvements, left turn bays and intersection improvements at Osborn Road. The project added two Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) crossings, one at Avalon and the other at 2nd Street. The project kept the on-street parking on 68th Street north of Osborn Road and add turn lanes.

The goal of this project was to give pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers comfortable space for each transportation mode and improve local and regional connectivity by linking to the existing bikeway and planned network in the area. 

Project Background

68th Street had bike lanes through Scottsdale and in Tempe (where it is College Avenue) with the exception of the one-mile segment between Indian School Road and Thomas Road. This gap in bike lane created a barrier and contributed to an uncomfortable riding experience for many types of bike riders.

The full corridor has high pedestrian and bicycle use, as do the intersecting roads of Indian School, Osborn, and Thomas which all have bike lanes, and the Arizona Canal path at the north end of the project limits.

The gap in bike lanes prevented bicyclists from easily reaching Old Town Scottsdale along an otherwise comfortable, low-stress bike route in Scottsdale and Tempe. Paiute Neighborhood Center and Park on Osborn is a quarter mile from 68th Street. Residents frequently walk and bike to access the services and programs there.

68th Street had four travel lanes along this segment of roadway, but lower traffic volumes than nearby Miller Road (on the other side of downtown), which carries higher volumes on only two travel lanes.

City of Scottsdale Title VI Abbreviated Statement

Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other nondiscrimination laws and authorities, the City of Scottsdale does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Persons that require a reasonable accommodation based on language or disability should contact the City of Scottsdale's Diversity Office at [email protected] (link sends e-mail). Requests should be made as early as possible to ensure the city has an opportunity to address the accommodation.

De acuerdo con el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA por sus siglas en inglés) y otras normas y leyes antidiscriminatorias, la Ciudad de Scottsdale no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, edad o discapacidad. Las personas que requieran asistencia (dentro de lo razonable) ya sea por el idioma o discapacidad deben ponerse en contacto con la Oficina de Diversidad de la Ciudad de Scottsdale a [email protected] (link sends e-mail). Las solicitudes deben hacerse lo más antes posible para asegurar que la Ciudad tenga la oportunidad de hacer los arreglos necesarios.