Baseline Road morning traffic. (Photo Rose Tring \/ AZ Media Maven)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOther concerns voiced by residents included overall congestion, poor traffic light timing, issues with drop-off and pick-up at the various schools and dangerous intersections such as 51st<\/sup> Avenue and South Mountain where there is no light, but a pedestrian cross walk. Residents also worry about areas on Southern Avenue that narrows from four lanes to two, intersections at 51st<\/sup> and Southern and 35th<\/sup> and Southern Avenues.<\/p>\n\u201cAll of the above,\u201d agrees Martina G. Velasquez, who is nearing the 10-year mark as a resident of Laveen. \u201cAs pointed out by several people, we need road improvements desperately. It\u2019s unfortunate that because of our semi-rural character we are unable to resolve so many of these issues. The road narrowing, for example \u2014 the City of Phoenix won\u2019t pay to widen it and neither will Maricopa County. I see some of the most reckless acts in those areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jon Kimoto, a member of the Laveen Village Planning Committee since 2005, says Velasquez has it right that is difficult to hammer out transportation issues in Laveen. The committee is made up of members appointed by the Phoenix City Council and mayor to guide decisions and policies for Laveen.<\/p>\n
About 45,000 residents live in the area, most under the jurisdiction of the City of Phoenix, according to the 2010 U.S Census. But Laveen also has several large portions of land that fall under Maricopa County, and then further south and west, land is owned by the Gila River Indian Community. The Arizona Department of Transportation also is in on the discussions as it prepares to build the South Mountain Freeway roughly along 61st<\/sup> cutting through both city and county land to connect with Interstate 10 on both ends.<\/p>\n\u201cThat\u2019s one of our biggest challenges,\u201d Kimoto said. \u201cWe have to coordinate with the county and the city to make sure traffic goes the way it should, along with drainage, flood control and planned development.\u201d<\/p>\n
City voters approved Proposition 104 on Aug. 25 in a citywide election, giving the nod for $17 billion in transportation projects over the next 30 years to be paid for through a sales tax increase. Included are more than 100 miles of new sidewalks, 1,000 miles of new bicycle lanes, expanded bus services and about 40 miles of additional light rail lines.<\/p>\n
While none are specific to Laveen, the area will benefit from a quicker turn around on road resurfacing projects and expanded bus routes, according to Kerry Wilcoxon, who works for the Phoenix Safety and Neighborhood Traffic Section. Wilcoxon said that for any of the safety concerns raised by residents \u2013 such as the crosswalk at South Mountain and 51st<\/sup> Avenue \u2013 then he is the city person to contact.<\/p>\n\u201cThe best way to request assistance is to contact me, if it\u2019s regarding safety,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Wilcoxon noted that the traffic congestion along Baseline Road where it narrows to two lanes also is tied up in the development plans for the South Mountain Freeway.<\/p>\n
Although he could not provide specifics, he said improvements on Baseline likely will wait until the ADOT begins construction on the proposed freeway, which is expected to be completed in 2020, and the related off-ramps that might intersect with Baseline Road. Current plans call for an exit ramp from the freeway at Baseline Road.<\/p>\n
Kimoto said the key for Laveen will be ensuring road improvements are planned that will accommodate the coming development along the freeway corridor.<\/p>\n
But residents already are worried as multiple new businesses are being built along Baseline between 51st and 55th Avenues. Several people are worried that the new stores will cause even more congestion at 51st<\/sup> and Baseline. Wilcoxon said that intersection was built with the anticipation of the new development and should be ready for the increased traffic load.<\/p>\nAnother concern is the timing of traffic signals. \u201cThe traffic light timing is terrible and could help with traffic flow, especially between 51st and 67th,\u201d Velasquez said.<\/p>\n
Wilcoxon said such issues also can be addressed by the city with observations made during the high-congestion time to see if having the light at 55th<\/sup> Avenue change more frequently would alleviated the backup along Baseline Road.<\/p>\nAs for the irritating or downright dangerous driving habits, Wilcoxon said that the best thing for residents worried about speeding, people running red lights and other traffic violations to do is contact the city\u2019s traffic complaint hotline, 602<\/em>–534<\/em>–SPEED<\/em> (7733), which connects callers to Police Officer Toby Erhler.<\/p>\nUSEFUL NUMBERS:<\/p>\n
Kerry Wilcoxon<\/strong> \nSafety and Neighborhood Traffic Section \n602-262-4614 \nKerry.Wilcoxon@phoenix.gov<\/a><\/p>\nTraffic Complaint Hotline<\/strong> \n602<\/em>–534<\/em>–SPEED<\/em> (7733) \nStreet Transportation Main<\/strong> \n602-262-6284<\/p>\nStreet Restrictions<\/strong> \n602-262-6235<\/p>\nStreet Maintenance Dispatch<\/strong> \n602-262-6441<\/p>\nTraffic Signals<\/strong> \n602-262-6021<\/p>\n(This article appears in the September print edition of the South Mountain District News and be read online at the paper’s site through this link: Residents Sound Off on Local Traffic Issues<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Whether it is rude drivers or four-lane thoroughfares that abruptly drop to two lanes, residents in Laveen find plenty to say about driving in the rapidly developing urban village. The South Mountain District News asked residents to sound off on the topic and more than 80 people responded with what they considered the biggest traffic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[237,262,219],"tags":[345,227,344,161,160,154,253,220,343],"yoast_head":"\n
Residents say lousy drivers are worst traffic issue in Laveen - Laveen Business Directory<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n