Proposed Changes to No. Central Ave. from Bethany Home to the Canal

Update: The City of Phoenix will not be making any changes to the travel lanes on No. Central Avenue.

The City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department is seeking your input on proposed changes to the travel lane striping on Central Avenue from Bethany Home Road to the Arizona Canal (between Northern Avenue and Dunlap​ Avenue).

There are three ways you can participate:

  1. Call in to listen to the live meeting: Dial 602-666-0783, ​enter the meeting number: 187 025 4860 then press #. Press # again if prompted for an attendee ID. This option allows participants to ONLY listen to the meeting's audio (not view the speakers or presentation).

  2. View and listen ONLY to the live meeting using a web-enabled device by clicking here to register and join​ the meeting. If you are asked for a password, enter streets. To request to speak at the meeting, you must also follow the steps in Option 3 below.

  3. Request to speak and/or submit a comment or ask a question during the live meeting by contacting Albert Granillo (agranillo@gciaz.com) no later than 5 p.m. (one hour prior to the meeting) on the day of the meeting, Thursday, May 20.

    About the Project

    What: Where there is enough space on the roadway, buffered bike lanes will be added. The travel lanes will be reconfigured from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane.

    When: ​Any proposed changes to the street would be made after pavement maintenance planned for fall 2021. 

    ​​Why: Center turn lanes help to reduce conflict by allowing people turning left to wait for a gap. The bike lanes and buffers will provide space for people bicycling while also separating the Murphy Bridle Trail from motor vehicle traffic. This project would also provide connectivity to the Arizona Canal for people riding bicycles. This project also aligns with citywide policy including voter-approved Transportation 2050 and the City's Complete Streets policy.

Thank you for your interest in this. Please review Transportation 2050 and the City’s Complete Streets policy before the call on May 20th. For more information and to link directly to the City of Phoeix’s website on this proposed project, please click here.

Some interesting facts about No. Central Avenue:

  1. North Central Avenue has national historic designation from Bethany Home to the Arizona Canal.

  2. The Murphy Bridle Path is the only linear City of Phoenix Public Park and also has national historic designation.

  3. This section of No. Central Avenue was platted in the late 1800s.

  4. North Central Avenue was not designed to be a major commuter freeway.

  5. The ash and olive trees lining North Central Avenue from Missouri to the Arizona Canal also have local, state and national historic status.