| Downtown Traffic Circulation Study |
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Project Overview
Downtown Casa Grande is an asset that must be maintained as the heart of the community. The downtown circulation system must allow for pedestrian- and transit-oriented development, as well as efficiently move people and goods to and through Downtown. This is critical to ensuring that Downtown Casa Grande is economically sustainable and a place that attracts residents, visitors and business investment. Last year, the City of Casa Grande initiated the Downtown Traffic Circulation Study. This study builds upon the values expressed in the recently adopted Casa Grande General Plan 2020 Update and focuses on improving circulation within and through Downtown Casa Grande. |
| Open House February 16 |
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| You're Invited!
After evaluating existing conditions and identifying issues and opportunities, the study team started its analysis of multimodal transportation and land use in Downtown. Over the course of the past months, the study team has used that analysis to develop initial rail and land use alternatives. But, we need your help!
The City will be hosting a public open house to present and receive feedback on initial rail and land use alternatives. Participants will interact with study team members and be able to review displays of these alternatives and provide feedback. Feedback on these alternatives will assist in identification of the preferred rail crossing and related roadway network. Identification of the preferred alternative will allow the study team to progress with the next phase of the study, which involves investigating and defining parking, transit, and pedestrian elements of the circulation system that will compliment the preferred roadway network.
Please join the project team:
February 16, 2010
4 to 6 p.m.
510 E. Florence Blvd.
Casa Grande, AZ
Register now for the Open House (while registration is not necessary to attend the event, it speeds event check in.) |
| Rail Analysis Review |
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Synopsis of Rail Alternatives
Operations of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) have a significant impact on circulation through Downtown Casa Grande. These impacts are anticipated to become more pronounced in the future as the number of tracks and frequency of service through Downtown increases. The Casa Grande Downtown Traffic Circulation Study has been tasked with identifying potential solutions to alleviate future delays through downtown associated with rail activity. The range of alternatives included numerous potential grade-separated crossing locations in the vicinity of Downtown, as well as a potential rail bypass of the Downtown. Alternatives were evaluated using several criteria, including environmental impacts, cost, safety, consistency with local plans, impacts to rail operations, and ability to address project goals and objectives. This evaluation led to the identification of the following two alternatives for further detailed study:
Pinal Avenue Overpass - This alternative would construct an elevated roadway over the UPRR tracks, creating a new connection between Pinal Avenue and Katherine Street. 2nd Street would be realigned south to create a new, elevated intersection with Pinal Avenue, eliminating the five-points intersection. UPRR would require closing of one or more existing downtown at-grade crossing in conjunction with construction of the new overpass.
Thornton Road Overpass - This alternative would replace the existing at-grade crossing of the UPRR tracks at Thornton Road with a new elevated roadway over the UPRR tracks.
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