The Mesa City Council has approved an agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation that lets ADOT remove two traffic lanes from a five-mile section of Main Street between Sossaman and Meridian roads to allow implementation of bicycle lanes and sidewalks.
U.S. 60X, as the section is known, also features new lighting, gutters, curbs, pedestrian ramps and traffic signals.
The agreement is a necessary step that allows ADOT to work around Mesa utilities and is a preliminary step before the project goes out to bid. Work is projected to start early next year.
Some area residents expressed opposition to the plan to reduce travel lanes on a major arterial route, saying space exists to add the pedestrian and bike enhancements without cutting car lanes.
A 2018 design study considered one possibility that included compatibility with a light rail extension on one street consideration. That idea also stirred opposition, even though there is no plan in the works for light rail in the median.
Opponents to reducing travel lanes said the plan should include adding capacity to accommodate growth rather than reducing it to better accommodate multimodal transportation options.
Travel lane reductions, also called “road diets,” have met with increasing resistance from Valley residents over the last year.
ADOT’s report on U.S.60X says the five-mile section still reflects its original design as a rural highway. It lacks accommodation for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as residents using personal mobility devices. The 2018 study also notes the section is considered a “high crash corridor” in need of infrastructure improvements to enhance safety and mobility.
Under the recent agreement, Mesa will review design documents before construction begins. The 2018 study estimated a $15M project cost. A new official estimate was not provided with the agreement documents. (Source)
