Phoenix Bus Rapid Transit Program - 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street Corridor

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Welcome

Hi, we’re glad you’re here! Before you head into our online meeting, take a moment to sign in and sign up for more program updates.


How to Participate

  • Please review the slides to learn more about the project.
  • After you have learned more about this project, please share your thoughts by taking our survey, providing comments on our map or filling out a comment form.
  • To stay informed of future community opportunities, be sure to add your email to your comment so we can add you to our contact list!

How to Navigate

  • Click on the arrows on the bottom of your screen to move forward, or...
  • Use the navigation bar at the left of your screen to revisit any part of the meeting.
  • Be sure to share your thoughts in the survey, interactive map, and more!

If you would like to listen to the recorded live presentation of this information, simply head to the Thank You tab using the navigation bar on the left side of your screen.

BRT 101

What is BRT?

Bus Rapid Transit – or BRT – is a high capacity bus service that provides a fast, reliable, and convenient transit experience...and this new transit option is coming to Phoenix.

Elements of BRT

BRT is unique because there are no universal standards. This means it can be planned and designed to best meet our community's needs. However, there are six recurring elements found in successful BRT systems.

Advanced Fare Collection

Advanced fare collection or mobile fare payment allows rider to pay before boarding the bus through mobile apps, reloadable smart cards or ticket kiosks.

Transit Spot Improvements

Transit spot improvements include queue jump lanes, creating additional bus-only lanes at intersections, essentially giving buses a head start at the intersection. It also includes transit signal priority, which modifies the normal signal operation process to better accommodate buses by holding the green time longer or shortening the red time.

Enhanced Stations

Enhanced stations include center- or side- running stations with level boarding, canopies, seating, real-time information and ticket vending machines.

Custom Buses

Custom buses include low floors for level boarding; higher passenger capacity, multiple doors and amenities like USB chargers and space for bikes on board.

Dedicated Lanes

BRT may include dedicated lanes that will separate buses from traffic to increase speed and reliability.

Unique Branding

Unique branding will differentiate BRT from other transit modes through both nomenclature (name) and unique visual components such as logo and color scheme.

Where We've Been

  • In 2019, the project team reevaluated the BRT corridors identified in the Transportation 2050 (T2050) plan.
  • In 2020, the team completed a transit analysis and 11 months of community engagement.
  • In October 2021, Phoenix City Council unanimously approved the initial Bus Rapid Transit corridor of 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street.
All Corridor Map

Where We Are Now

  • In April 2022, Phoenix City Council approved the Phoenix BRT Program to continue community and stakeholder engagement, alternatives analysis, and 15 percent design plans for the initial BRT corridor of 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street.
  • The BRT Program is currently conducting an Alternatives Analysis to develop conceptual designs for this corridor.

Check out our map below to see where the corridor is going, where we have proposed stations, and how it connects to other transit options.

The BRT Corridor

35th Avenue and Van Buren Street

  • 13.6 miles in length
  • 16 proposed stations
  • 44 signalized intersections
  • 7 concurrent projects (learn more!)
  • 4 Phoenix Council Districts (1, 4, 5, 7)
  • 2 transit centers

BRT Program Schedule

Project Schedule


Versión en español

Transit Analysis

Spring 2020 – Spring 2021

  • Initial transit analysis
  • Community and stakeholder engagement

Detailed Corridor Planning

Fall 2022 – Fall 2024

  • Alternatives analysis
  • 15% design
  • Station planning
  • Corridor alignment
  • Preliminary right-of-way (ROW)
  • Traffic analysis
  • Community and stakeholder engagement

Final Design

Fall 2024 – Winter 2026

  • Final design plans
  • Corridor refinement
  • ROW refinement
  • Bus procurement/design
  • Community and stakeholder engagement

Construction

Fall 2026 – Winter 2028

  • Station developments
  • Traffic signal improvements
  • Roadway enhancements
  • Vehicle testing
  • Community and stakeholder engagement

Community Engagement Phase I - Fall 2022

Here's what we heard from you...

Detail Corridor Planning Schedule


Versión en español

  • Transit frequency is key to improving transit service and use
  • Safety and security is essential
  • Pedestrian access to stations is critical
  • Prioritize public transit
  • Implement dedicated lanes
  • Expand connections
  • Overall support for bus rapid transit

BRT Corridor Priorities

We heard you...

Through your feedback, agency and key stakeholder input and early transit analysis, we identified five critical priorities that are the foundation for how we will develop the 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street corridor.

Phoenix BRT Program
  • Develop a "showcase" BRT corridor
  • Provide safe and accessible multimodal connections
  • Improve travel times and reliability
  • Collaborate with concurrent projects
  • Support meaningful and equitable community engagement

Versión en español

Process to a Recommended BRT Cross-Section

BRT Process Schedule


Versión en español

Fall 2022

1 Priorities

Develop priorities for the project are developed based on input.

2 Develop BRT options and screening criteria (we are here)

Based on input, identify potential BRT options and develop criteria to evaluate options.

Winter 2022-2023

3 Community input

Hold online and in-person meetings to obtain input and share information with the community.

Summer 2023

4 Evaluate the BRT options

Evaluate the benefits and impacts of the refined BRT options.

5 Community input

Hold public meetings to seek input to help identify a recommended BRT option.

Fall 2023

6 Recommendation

Based on input, present recommended BRT option for review/action.

What Could the Roadway Look Like?

We have developed four initial cross-sections as a starting point: two for a center-running BRT and two for a side-running BRT.

For both center-running and side-running, we considered what could fit within the existing roadway (Minimum Right-of-Way [ROW] BRT) and what it could look like if there were no constraints on roadway width (Maximum ROW BRT).

Minimum right-of-way bus rapid transit requires little additional property purposes; Maximum right-of-way bus rapid transit requires a lot of additional purchases.

Versión en español

These explore both ends of the spectrum, but we realize that our ideal BRT cross-section is somewhere in-between.

That’s where we need YOU!

We need your help to evaluate the BRT cross-sections and tell us what you think!

We will use your input as we refine the cross-sections to best meet the needs of the community.

Existing Roadway

BRT Process Schedule
BRT Process Schedule

Center-Running BRT Cross-Sections

Keep scrolling down the page to view the different center-running BRT cross-sections.

Minimum ROW BRT: Center-Running

Download as PDF

Download as PDF

Maximum ROW BRT: Center-Running

All of these amenities will not fit within the existing ROW, so to minimize impact to private property, we need your input on what elements are the most important to you.

Download as PDF

Download as PDF

Side-Running BRT Cross-Sections

Keep scrolling down the page to view the different side-running BRT cross-sections

Minimum ROW BRT: Side-Running

Download as PDF

Download as PDF

Maximum ROW BRT: Side-Running

All of these amenities will not fit within the existing ROW, so to minimize impact to private property, we need your input on what elements are the most important to you.

Download as PDF

Download as PDF

Center-Running vs. Side-Running

Considerations

    Center-Running

  • Allows only BRT buses in the center dedicated transit lanes, creating faster BRT bus travel times.
  • BRT buses would only use the center-running stations and the local buses would only use their existing stops.
  • Allows left turns at signalized intersections only.
  • Provides a safe place for pedestrians to stop when crossing the street.

    Side-Running

  • Allows both BRT buses and vehicles (or bicycles) that are turning right to use the side dedicated lane, potentially resulting in slower BRT bus travel times.
  • Allows local buses and BRT buses to use the side stations.
  • Creates multiple conflicts with driveways but maintains median left turns throughout the corridor.
  • Creates a longer distance for pedestrians crossing the street at intersections but allows direct boarding from the sidewalk.

How Will We Evaluate?

Criteria Focus
Travel Time (During Peak Hours)
  • Minutes of transit travel time
  • Minutes of personal vehicle travel time
Pedestrian and Bike Connections
  • Access to BRT stations
Transit Network Compatibility
  • Compatibility with existing local bus service
  • Connectivity to other high-capacity transit
Ridership
  • Average daily ridership (weekdays)
Traffic Operations
  • Vehicle delays by hour
  • Number of people traveling through the corridor
  • Understanding traffic impacts on surrounding streets
Right-of-Way
  • Number of total property takes (whole parcel)
  • Number of partial takes (part of a parcel)
Parking
  • Number of affected parking spaces
Access
  • Number of affected property access points
  • Number of affected left/right turn movements
Conceptual Costs
  • Estimated cost of improvements
Community Input
  • Community preference for the transit improvement

BRT Comment Map

Share your thoughts today by dropping a pin along the green BRT corridor line and leaving a location-specific comment.

Take Our Survey!

Take our survey today and tell us which BRT cross-section you prefer!

Thank You!

Thank you for attending our online public meeting!


Missed the virtual public meeting? Watch the recording today to learn more or listen to our Spanish audio channel recording below


Escuche ahora: Audio en español de la reunión pública virtual
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  1. City of Phoenix 35th Avenue BUILD Grant
  2. City of Phoenix 35th Avenue Improvements
  3. Central Station Development
  4. City of Phoenix /Valley Metro Metrocenter Transit Center
  5. ADOT Grand 35 Study
  6. Valley Metro West Phoenix HCT AA
  7. Valley Metro CapEx and 10WEST LRT