The City of Phoenix is opening a dialogue with the local populace and business owners regarding the inaugural Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor along Van Buren Street. In an effort to gather community feedback on lane options, officials from Phoenix are staging a series of events and workshops this October. The City has turned its attention to Van Buren Street between 35th Avenue and Central Avenue after finalizing the decision earlier this year to adopt a center-running BRT model for 35th Avenue, following intensive community outreach.
BRT, an expedited bus service tailored to Phoenix's needs, offers high-capacity transit aimed to provide reliable and convenient passage through the city. With no stringent universal design standards, BRT systems can be adapted to specifically meet the needs of the communities they serve—optimal configurations are thus vital for tailoring effective systems. Phoenix residents now have the chance to weigh in on two key lane options for the Van Buren Street corridor: side-running, which positions the bus lane alongside the curb, and center-running, which places the bus lane at the roadway's midpoint. The feedback gathered is expected to critically inform the BRT's final design.
One community workshop and one workshop geared towards business stakeholders will be conducted, alongside various pop-up events scattered throughout the month. An additional option for engagement is provided by the online open house for those preferring to contribute remotely. All feedback is to be received by October 31. "Community input is critical at this stage and will help guide the design of BRT along this corridor," the City of Phoenix emphasized in their outreach message.
The scheduled Community Workshop will be held on October 21, at Capitol Elementary School, situating itself at 330 N. 16th Ave., Phoenix, AZ, commencing at 6 p.m. The following day, October 22, the Business Workshop invites local proprietors to Moya Elementary School, located at 406 N. 41st Ave., Phoenix, AZ, also set to begin at 6 p.m. For those looking to learn about the program and cast their input from anywhere, the online open house stands ready to serve.
More information on the Phoenix BRT program and event details can be accessed through their official website. This development marks a significant advancement in Phoenix's public transportation infrastructure vision, with the BRT system promising to drastically enhance urban mobility and undergird the city's continued growth.
