| Phoenix Completes LED Street Light Conversion, Estimating $3.5 Million in Energy Savings per Year | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/street-transportation/783 | Street Transportation | | 1/15/2020 4:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/783/Newsroom_Streets_010png.png | | Phoenix Completes LED Street Light Conversion, Estimating $3.5 Million in Energy Savings per Year | <div class="ExternalClass5AFACEFD85334F85BD59A8E1F5E7E952"><html>
<p><img alt="group photo with Mayor Kate Gallego" style="margin:5px;width:300px;vertical-align:auto;float:right;" src="/streetssite/MediaAssets/MediaEventPhotoBorder.png" />Phoenix residents are experiencing improved visibility on city streets after the conversion to LED street lights. The city of Phoenix completed a citywide conversion of nearly 100,000 standard street lights to energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) units. This conversion is one of the largest completed by any U.S. city. </p><p>"As the fifth largest city and fastest growing city in the nation, I want to make Phoenix a model of sustainability for communities across the country," said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. "These new LED street lights not only bring us one step closer to that goal, they also provide tremendous annual cost-savings for residents."</p><p>The conversion was approved by Phoenix City Council after several years of testing and evaluation of various LED street lights. Based upon community input and the evaluations, Phoenix adopted 2,700 kelvin as the standard kelvin level for Phoenix's new LED street lights, which is considered a warmer color temperature for LED lights.</p><p>The new LED street lights are anticipated to save the city approximately $3.5 million in annual energy costs. By switching to more energy efficient LED fixtures, the city reduced the amount of electricity needed to illuminate the streets by approximately 53%. This reduction prevents emissions of up to 18,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year -- the equivalent of taking 3,800 cars off the road.</p><p>LED street lights also have longer lifespans and produce better light quality than the previously used high pressure sodium street lights. In addition to substantial energy savings, the LED fixtures will reduce maintenance expenses over their service life. Each of the nearly 100,000 new fixtures come with a ten-year warranty.</p><p>LED technology can also improve roadway visibility and safety due to the improved distribution of light compared to high pressure sodium street lights. Improved visibility has been linked to a reduction in crime and increased pedestrian safety.</p><p>The city encourages the public to report street light outages, repair requests and other concerns to <a href="/atyourservice" target="_blank">phoenix.gov/atyourservice </a>by clicking on the "Street Light Repair Request" form or by calling the street light hotline at 602-495-5125.</p><p>Learn more about the Street Transportation Department at <a href="/streets" target="_blank">phoenix.gov/streets</a> and follow the department on Twitter <a href="https://www.twitter.com/StreetsPHX" target="_blank">@StreetsPHX</a>.</p>
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| Phoenix Receives Grant for Bike to School and Pedestrian Safety Programs | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/street-transportation/770 | Street Transportation | | 1/10/2020 12:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/770/Newsroom_Streets_009.png | | Phoenix Receives Grant for Bike to School and Pedestrian Safety Programs | <div class="ExternalClass807FB8087BCB43BE8019B6FB0E103958"><html>
<p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://gohs.az.gov">Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety</a> recently awarded $20,980 to the Street Transportation Department to help fund the department’s on-going bicycle and pedestrian safety initiatives.</p>
<p>The grant will be used to purchase bicycle helmets for students that participate in the city’s annual bike to school events and LED stop sign paddles for crossing guards stationed at high traffic volume locations throughout the city.</p>
<p>In 2019, 640 students were trained in the bicycle safety curriculum, 3,200 children participated in bicycle safety rodeos, and 6,410 bicycle helmets were distributed free to children. This grant will allow the Street Transportation Department to continue this programming into 2021.</p>
<p>“Pedestrian safety is a top priority for the Street Transportation Department. We are excited that the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s investment in our school safety programs will help us continue to promote safety to the youngest and newest users of Phoenix streets – elementary school students” said Street Transportation Department Director, Kini Knudson. </p>
<p>Visit the Street Transportation Department’s <a target="_blank" href="/streets/safety-topics">Safety Topics webpage</a> for more information and follow the department on Twitter <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/StreetsPHX">@StreetsPHX</a>.</p>
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| Phoenix Announces New Bicycle Safety Improvements | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/street-transportation/692 | Street Transportation | | 12/12/2019 8:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/692/Newsroom_Streets_001.png | | Phoenix Announces New Bicycle Safety Improvements | <div class="ExternalClass72CCF634CBEC4C16A4AC9D52F0107ADB"><html>
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<td><p>The city of Phoenix is prioritizing multimodal and active transportation by upgrading bicycle infrastructure throughout the city. Upgrades include bicycle lanes and shared lane markings, bicycle protection and signage. These upgrades, accompanied by the addition of a full-time Active Transportation Program Manager position in the Street Transportation Department, will improve safety for all users of the roadways.</p><p>"Phoenix is the nation's fifth largest city and, as the population continues to grow, our transportation options must reflect the diverse needs of our residents," said Mayor Kate Gallego. "Upgrading our bicycle infrastructure to include more lanes, more protection, and better signage, helps encourage multimodal transportation, particularly in our city core."<br></p><h3>
BICYCLE LANES AND LANE MARKINGS</h3><p>
People who drive cars, ride bicycles or walk in the city of Phoenix may have noticed new bicycle infrastructure on the streets.<br><br>
"Phoenix residents travel our streets using different modes of transportation and we're working hard to make important safety improvements. Thanks to the voter-approved Transportation 2050 plan, our bicycle lanes, markings, signage and other protective measures will assist cyclists as we all share the road," said Councilwoman Thelda Williams, Chair, Transportation Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee.<br></p><p style="text-align:center;">
<img style="width:475px;vertical-align:auto;float:right;" alt="Phoenix Bicycle Improvements 2019" src="/streetssite/MediaAssets/BicycleImprovements2019Border.png" />
</p><p>In the first three and a half years of the voter-approved Transportation 2050 (T2050) plan, more than 157 miles of new dedicated bicycle lanes have been added to the city's bicycle network. Additionally, in 2019, nearly 300 shared lane markings were installed in downtown Phoenix. Dedicated bicycle lanes are travel lanes exclusively for people riding bicycles. Shared lane markings visually reinforce to motorists that people on bicycles have the legal right to occupy the same space on the road as people driving cars.<br><br>
The city also added twelve miles of buffered bike lanes in 2019 and is planning to install an additional 34 miles by 2023. The buffer (painted stripes) creates additional space between vehicles and people walking or bicycling, enhancing safety. <br><br>
Many of these bicycle and shared lane markings are backed with green paint - the vibrant color helps draw attention to people bicycling and reminds people driving to be aware of people riding bicycles.<br></p><h3>
BICYCLE PROTECTION</h3><p>
The city is also identifying opportunities to add protection to existing bicycle lanes. Protection can come in the form of a parked car or vertical delineator to separate bicycle and vehicle traffic.<br><br>
In October, the city of Phoenix installed its first parking protected bicycle lanes on 39th Avenue from Encanto Boulevard to Edgemont Avenue and Earll Drive from Sixth to Third Avenues. This configuration switches the traditional placement of a parking lane and bicycle lane. The resulting roadway places the bicycle lane next to the curb and farthest away from vehicle traffic, so that the parked cars form a barrier protecting people riding bicycles from moving vehicle traffic. <br><br>
Councilwoman Laura Pastor, the councilmember for District 4 (where both protected bicycle lanes reside), explained that this new addition to the city's streetscape "improves safety for our bicyclists and pedestrians, and helps to ensure we can all share the road safety." She added, "the city will continue to look at ways to improve our roads for everyone who wants to bike or walk, because that's what makes central Phoenix such a wonderful, vibrant community. The addition of protected bicycle infrastructure in Phoenix is the next step in our journey to a safer, stronger city."<br><br>
Bicycle protection comes in other forms such as vertical markers like plastic posts or small bumps. In 2020, the city will host several public meetings focusing on identifying the best locations for adding protection to existing bicycle lanes. These meetings will be publicized at <a href="http://lists.phoenix.gov/t/1426431/354097/3805/6/" target="_blank">phoenix.gov/streets</a>.<br><br>
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</p><h3>SIGNAGE</h3><p>
The city is also installing more signs that are used to remind motorists to share the road and to give people on bicycles ample room when passing. In addition to standard signage, the city partnered with the <a href="http://lists.phoenix.gov/t/1426431/354097/23624/9/" target="_blank">Rob Dollar Foundation</a> to add new signs at several strategic locations throughout Phoenix. The Federal Highway Administration, which establishes and approves road sign standards, granted Phoenix special permission to test and evaluate the use of these new signs. The signs remind drivers that state law requires a minimum of three feet to pass bicycles. 16 of these special signs were recently installed and an additional four will be installed by the end of the year. All of the signs will be evaluated before potential incorporation citywide.<br></p><h3>
BICYCLE MASTER PLAN </h3><p>
These safety improvements are part of a larger vision for active transportation within the Street Transportation department. The department recently added to its staff an Active Transportation Program Manager, Marielle Brown. Marielle will oversee the implementation of a robust active transportation program, including an update to the city's Bicycle Master Plan. The current plan was adopted in 2014, and its update is estimated for completion in fall 2021.
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