About the Program
As part of its Climate Action Plan Framework, the city of Phoenix aims to create a network of cool corridors across its communities to encourage movement from residential homes to various areas across the city that is safe and environmentally-conscious. This goal will be made possible by the implementation of the Cool Corridors Program.
The Street Transportation Department implemented the Cool Corridors Program in 2020, with Council-approved funding of $1.5 million, to assist with planting 200 trees per mile for a total of 1,800 new trees planted across nine project areas citywide.
The department's Cool Corridors program is a part of Phoenix's more comprehensive Tree and Shade Master Plan and is supported by continuous research, prioritization and assessment through a partnership with Arizona State University and other partners.
Identifying and Prioritizing
Through data collection of four variables -- neighborhood heat vulnerability, transit dependency, pedestrian use and shade coverage and temperature--city staff and researchers were able to develop a ranking system that identifies heat-vulnerable areas in the city, which ultimately sets investment priorities.
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Education and Community Outreach
Cool Corridors are one-mile long pathways, walkways or trails adjacent to an arterial street designed to keep pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users safe and provide relief from the high temperatures of our urban desert landscape. Cool Corridors can have natural and engineered shade, combined with other temperature-lowering design features, such as benches, drinking water fountains and even communications tools. These design features can be achieved through public and private partnerships and resources.
The Street Transportation Department currently is focused on planting trees in heat-vulnerable areas. In late spring 2022, the Street Transportation Department the Phoenix community's assistance in determining where 200 trees should be planted.
