As the Arizona Department of Transportation gears up for the first phase of the Ajo Way and Interstate 19 interchange rebuild project, planners have begun to look at long-term solutions to the growing congestion west of the interstate.
The department has scheduled a public meeting to discuss with residents a planned study of Ajo Way, also known as Arizona 86, from just west of I-19 west to Kinney Road.
“With the rapid growth in the Tucson region, particularly along the State Route 86 corridor, it’s critical that we have the infrastructure in place to handle the expected increase in traffic in the future,” said ADOT South Central District engineer Rod Lane.
The department intends to conduct improvements on the heavily trafficked road at an as-yet undetermined date and wants to discuss possible alternatives with residents.
The study area has seen steadily increasing traffic flows, according to ADOT statistics.
The most recent annual average daily traffic counts, from 2013, show the area sees more than 30,000 cars a day.
By 2030, the state estimates the daily counts could average more than 45,000 cars.
The study plan adds to the list of other planned or proposed improvements along Ajo Way.
“In 2016, ADOT is starting on two major projects to upgrade this regional transportation route, and this study will examine possible future improvements between these projects, if funding is available,” Lane said.
In addition to the total rebuild of the aged interchange at I-19, ADOT is ready to start widening Ajo from Valencia Road to Kinney Road.
Further west, ADOT widened the shoulders or Ajo and conducted other improvements in the Sells area.
The department also has completed a study for Ajo Way from Sandario Road to Kinney Road.
The city, too, has given Ajo Way some attention recently.
As part of the $100 million Road Recovery Bond program, the city resurfaced the street from I-19 to just east of Benson Highway.
The public meeting on the study plan for the Kinney Road to I-19 stretch is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Valencia Middle School Multipurpose Room at 4400 W. Irvington Road.
ADOT plans to put the materials discussed at the meeting on its web page.
Contact the ADOT study team by March 14 to submit comments or ask additional questions.
Find them at 1-602-530-1697; email to alexandra.albert@jacobs.com or by regular mail to ADOT SR 86 Study Team, c/o Jacobs Engineering Inc.; 101 N. First Ave., #2600; Phoenix, AZ 85003
Photo radar enforcement ban
Last week Road Runner wrote about a bill in the Legislature that would have authorized school districts, with the help of local law enforcement, to install automated traffic-enforcement systems on school buses.
The bill would have allowed the ticketing of drivers who pass school buses discharging or picking up children.
Well, things move fast in the Legislature this time of year.
A new bill, with at least three of the same sponsors, would completely ban the use of all automated traffic-enforcement systems.
The bill, HB 2540, would not allow state or local agencies to use such systems to enforce red-light running or speeding.
Gem Show transportation
The city of Tucson will have a free shuttle service for gem show attendees.
The Tucson Department of Transportation’s Park Tucson Division will provide parking at the Downtown West Hub at 700 W. Congress, and parking at regular rates at the City’s Centro, Depot Plaza and Pennington Street garages.
The service started Saturday and will run daily through Feb. 14.
The routes include Downtown Gem Loop, the shows from Sixth Street to 25th Street, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Mineral and Fossil Loop, the shows between Downtown and Grant Road, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ; and the Kino Gem Loop shows south and east of the Kino Sports Complex from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Free shuttles on a fourth route will run daily through Feb. 8 for the Bead Loop shows on Ajo Way, Alvernon Way, South Fourth Avenue and Pennsylvania Street from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Parking and other information is available at www.GemRide.com
