Thomas Road Complete Street
Project Overview
The Thomas Road Complete Street Project will take place in early 2024 and will improve safety and provide a more consistent roadway for those traveling by car, foot, or bicycle between 56th St and 73rd St, just east of Scottsdale Road. Thomas Rd, west of Scottsdale Rd is currently an unbalanced roadway configuration with 2 west bound lanes and 3 east bound lanes. The roadway was designed to handle pre-freeway traffic patterns and volumes and currently has excess capacity. When roadways operate with excess capacity, they result in speeding and dangerous conditions. Reducing the number and width of travel lanes will discourage speeding and provide space for turn lanes to make the roadway operate more efficiently.
The project will make the following changes to the corridor:
- Right turn lanes at 64th St., 68th St. and Scottsdale Road to increase intersection capacity and improve traffic flow.
- Increased separation between the sidewalk and vehicular travel lane for pedestrians.
- Accessibility improvements to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements at sidewalks driveways and ADA ramps at intersections.
- New pavement throughout the corridor.
- Removal of one east bound travel lane to make room for turn lanes, bike lanes and to match the number of travel lanes (two in each direction) on either side of the project.
- Standard bike lanes to complete the gap in bike lanes on Thomas Road.
- New traffic signals at existing signalized intersections.
- Drainage improvements.
- Undergrounding of some power poles.
The new bike lanes will fill the gap in existing bike lanes on Thomas Road between 73rd Street and 56th Street, and complete bike lanes on this corridor as well as connect to several intersecting bikeways such as the Crosscut Canal Path, 64th Street and Scottsdale Road bike lanes, as well as upcoming bike lanes on 68th Street.
To see what the proposed traffic configuration will look like please view the following exhibits:
City of Phoenix is proposing adding bike lanes from 48th Street to 56th Street during upcoming pavement maintenance improvement. The project would change from three eastbound travel lanes to two travel lanes in each direction. The City of Scottsdale project will coordinate design east of 56th Street with the Phoenix project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thomas Road between 73rd St. (just east of Scottsdale Road) and 56th St.
- Right turn lanes at 64th St., 68th St. and Scottsdale Road to increase intersection capacity and improve traffic flow.
- Increased separation between the sidewalk and vehicular travel lane for pedestrians.
- Accessibility improvements to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, sidewalks at driveways and ADA ramps at intersections.
- Standard bike lanes to complete the gap in bike lanes on Thomas Road.
- Removal of one east bound travel lane to make room for turn lanes, bike lanes and to match the number of travel lanes (two in each direction) on either side of the project.
- New traffic signals at existing signalized intersections.
- Construct drainage improvements.
- Undergrounding of some power poles.
- New pavement throughout the corridor.
The Thomas Road (56th Street to 73rd Street) project will improve safety and provide a more consistent roadway for those traveling by car, foot, bicycle, or other micro mobility vehicles. Thomas Rd, west of Scottsdale Rd is currently an unbalanced roadway configuration with 2 west bound lanes and 3 east bound lanes. The roadway was designed to handle pre-freeway traffic patterns and volumes and currently has excess capacity. When roadways operate with excess capacity, they result in speeding and dangerous conditions. Reducing the number and width of travel lanes will discourage speeding and provide space for turn lanes to make the roadway operate more efficiently.
This roadway configuration was designed to handle pre-freeway traffic volumes and patterns.
The elimination of one east bound travel lane will provide space to add needed right turn lanes at 64th St., 68th St. and Scottsdale Road These changes will increase intersection capacity and improve overall traffic flow.
There will be added separation between vehicles and pedestrians, improving the overall safety of the corridor. Additionally, accessibility improvements to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirement are being made at sidewalks, driveways, and ADA ramps at intersections.
The new bike lanes will fill the existing gap in the bicycle network on Thomas Road between 56th St. and 73rd St. The bike lanes will connect to the bike lanes and trails along the Crosscut Canal, 68th St. and Indian Bend Wash.
Currently, bike riders share the travel lane cars or ride on the sidewalks with pedestrians. Some of the sidewalks are 5‐feet wide attached to the curb and cross many driveways to businesses. Adding a continuous bike lane will discourage sidewalk riding where conflicts with pedestrians and turning vehicles are more common. Bicyclists of all abilities will have a comfortable, delineated bike lane. The bike lane will also provide pedestrians with an additional buffer between the sidewalk and travel lane.
City of Phoenix has a proposed project from 56th St. to 48th St. during upcoming pavement maintenance on Thomas Road. The project will change Thomas Rd from three eastbound travel lanes and two westbound lanes to two travel lanes in each direction and add new pavement and bike lanes to the corridor. The City of Scottsdale project will coordinate design east of 56th Street with the Phoenix project to link improvements with our neighboring city.
The improvements on Thomas Road have been under development for several years and have been incorporated into several budgetary and planning processes over the years.
- 2007 Project Assessment and Traffic Study
- Thomas Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: 64th St. to Pima Road
- 2017 Federal funding application
- 2018 MAG Approval of federal funding application
- Adopted Fiscal Year 2019/2020 – 2022/2023 CIP budgets.
- 2020 Design kick-off
- The project was also included in several updates on Federal Grant Projects:
- Transportation Commission
- Paths and Trails
- 2022 Transportation Action Plan adoption
- 2022 Public Open House
Yes, the traffic volumes for this corridor are under the roadway capacity. Once the improvements are made, the roadway will function better which will also help traffic flow.
| Roadway Segment | Traffic Volume | Roadway Capacity |
| Pima to Granite Reef | 30,600 | 34,000 |
| Granite Reef to Hayden | 28,900 | 34,000 |
| Hayden to Miller | 32,500 | 34,000 |
| Miller to Scottsdale | 30,800 | 34,000 |
| Scottsdale to 68th | 25,600 | 34,000 |
| 68th to 64th | 25,400 | 34,000 |
| 64th to 60th | 21,500 | 34,000 |
The project is currently at the 90 percent design level. Utility coordination with SRP for undergrounding of overhead electric lines is underway and appraisals for land needs associated with the project are in progress. Land rights and temporary land leases needed along this corridor will go to the Scottsdale City Council on May 2, 2023.
100 percent design is anticipated for May 2023. Full plans, specifications and estimates for approval of federal funds will take place in June 2023.
The project will be bid in the fall of 2023 and go to City Council to approve the construction contract. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2024.
Land rights and temporary land leases are needed along this corridor, primarily for ADA ramp improvements and to relocate traffic signal poles.
No new right-of-way is being acquired for this project, however new land rights are needed as follows:
- easements for upgrading ramps to be ADA compliant,
- easements for new and existing traffic signal poles,
- easements for two new streetlights just west of 68th Street where the city is working with SRP to underground existing power poles so that a right turn lane can be constructed at the southwest corner of 68th St. and Thomas Road The existing streetlights are currently mounted to the power poles which will be eliminated for the conversion from overhead to underground utility.
The city is also acquiring a few TCE’s which are a temporary land lease for the contractor to have sufficient room to do their work. The largest one is in front of the Chase bank on the northwest corner of Thomas Road and Scottsdale Road where the bus stop is being relocated closer to the intersection. This bus stop is heavily used, and there are frequent instances of pedestrians crossing mid-block to get to the existing bus stop.
This $4.9 million project is being funded by the 0.2% Transportation Sales Tax and has federal funding for construction through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program.
Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2024.
Public Outreach
Transportation Commission Meeting
5:15 p.m., Thursday, April 20
Scottsdale City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
An open house was held from 4:30–6:30 p.m. on Mon., April 17 at the Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale.
The following exhibits were presented:
- What Guides Our Decision-Making Process
- Comprehensive Solutions for a Successful Project
- Significant Improvements for Auto Use
- Ariel View of Roadway
- 68th & Thomas Intersection Improvements
- Network Connections
- Reclassification from Major to Minor Arterial 2020
An Open House was held on Monday December 5, 2022 at the Paiute Neighborhood Center, 6535 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale.
Project Funding & History
This project is being funded but the .02% Transportation Sales Tax and has federal Transportation Alternatives funding for construction.
The improvements on Thomas Road have been under development for several years and have been incorporated into several budgetary and planning processes over the years.
- 2007 Project Assessment and Traffic Study: Thomas Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: 64th St. to Pima Road
- 2017 Federal funding application
- 2018 MAG Approval of federal funding application
- Adopted Fiscal Year 2019/2020 - 2022/2023 CIP budgets.
- 2020 Design kick-off
- The project was also included in several updates on Federal Grant Projects: Transportation Commission & Paths and Trails
- 2022 Transportation Action Plan adoption
- 2022 Public Open House
This project meets many of the 2022 Transportation Action Plan goals, policies and performance measures in the Streets and Bikeways Elements.
- Streets Element Goals 1-4
- Streets Element Policies 1, 2, 4 and 7
- Bikeway Element Goals 1, 3 and 5
- Bikeway Element Policies 2 and 5
- Bikeway Element Performance Measures 5 and 7
The project goals are to improve safety, connectivity, and quality of life for residents, students, visitors, and employees by completing the critical east/west bike lanes on this minor arterial roadway. The Thomas Road corridor has discontinuous bike lanes, high population density, several large activity centers, public and private schools, strong transit ridership, and many miles of intersecting bikeways. Two construction projects have added or contributed to bike lanes along Thomas Road. However, to date, only a portion of the bike lanes, 2-miles total, are completed in this corridor.
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 jacjohnson@scottsdaleaz.gov (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 jacjohnson@scottsdaleaz.gov (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.
Project Information
Budget: $4.8 million
Sponsoring Division: Transportation
Funding Source: Transportation Alternatives Program Federal Funding, Transportation 0.2% Sales Tax Local Match
Project Location: Thomas Road between 56th Street and 73rd Street