Phoenix Puts 35th And Van Buren On The Fast Track With Bus Rapid Transit

Phoenix is cranking up plans for a Bus Rapid Transit corridor along 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street, with a package of dedicated lanes, upgraded stations and safer pedestrian crossings that could shorten commutes across central Phoenix. The project pairs new lighting and landscaping with corridor safety upgrades to make stops feel more secure at night while speeding boarding during peak hours. City planners say they expect to advance design work this year as they collect feedback on lane configurations for Van Buren.

PHX Public Transit laid out the key features in a social post on April 6, listing “dedicated lanes,” “safety upgrades,” improved stations and better pedestrian connections as part of the plan. As posted by PHX Public Transit, the message included renderings and a link to the project hub. The post is the latest round of outreach as the program shifts from big-picture planning to more detailed design.

What BRT Will Look Like

The BRT package is built around speed and predictability: dedicated bus lanes, larger buses, level boarding and all-door entry to cut the time buses sit at stops. Stations are planned with upgraded shelters, lighting and landscaping, while spot transit improvements and upgraded fare systems are intended to boost reliability. These elements are detailed on the project website, as outlined by MeetPhoenixBRT.

Lane Options And What They Mean

City officials say the corridor is being designed in segments. Work on 35th Avenue moved ahead first, and a center-running configuration was selected there. Van Buren Street is now the focus, with a lane-options decision pending between side-running and center-running layouts.

As reported by City of Phoenix, the outreach effort has included community and business workshops plus an online open house to gather feedback on tradeoffs such as left-turn access, station placement and right-of-way impacts. The lane choice will determine where stations sit and how pedestrians cross at major intersections, a detail regular drivers and nearby businesses are watching closely.

Timeline And Next Steps

The project is in the Detailed Corridor Planning phase, with design milestones mapped into the late 2020s and construction expected to start in fall 2028. According to MeetPhoenixBRT, planning runs through fall 2026, final design is slated for 2026 to 2028 and major construction would follow, with corridor completion targeted around 2030. City staff say feedback gathered now will influence final station locations and lane treatments before design is locked in.

Where This Came From

Bus Rapid Transit in Phoenix traces back to the voter-approved Transportation 2050 plan, and the City has been moving the program forward through technical analysis and community outreach. A report to the Citizens Transportation Commission outlines the program’s goals and the public engagement that led to 35th Avenue being approved as the city's first corridor. That packet notes outreach included in-person workshops, pop-up events and an online survey to gather local input.

Residents who want a say can review materials and maps on the project hub and watch for future workshops and pop-ups. City staff say they will use that feedback to refine the corridor design before the project moves into final engineering and construction phases.