56th Street in east Phoenix carries moderate traffic but has no continuous sidewalks in some stretches — a gap the city has identified as a priority in its pedestrian safety and bicycle plans. Phoenix is now moving to fix it.
The City Council on May 20 approved design services for Phase 2 of the 56th Street bike and pedestrian improvement project, covering the corridor from Thomas Road to Indian School Road in District 6. The project was approved as part of the consent agenda.
Why this corridor matters
56th Street is a north-south arterial that runs through a mix of residential neighborhoods, parks, and commercial areas in east Phoenix. The corridor between Thomas and Indian School connects to Cactus Park and several residential communities. Like many streets in Phoenix, it lacks continuous pedestrian infrastructure — a problem the city has documented in its Pedestrian Safety Action Plan and its Bicycle Master Plan. The corridor has been flagged as a priority in both plans.
Adding sidewalks and bike lanes fills gaps in the city's active transportation network. Phoenix has one of the highest pedestrian fatality rates among large U.S. cities, and projects like this target the specific corridors where the most serious crashes occur.
What Phase 2 includes
The improvements include new or repaired sidewalks on both sides of the street, striped bike lanes, upgraded crosswalks and pedestrian signals at intersections, ADA-accessible curb ramps, and drainage improvements to prevent standing water at crosswalks.
Phase 2 continues work that began on adjacent segments of the corridor. The design-bid-build contract approved May 20 covers the design phase; construction will be put out for bid separately.
Funding and timeline
Funding comes from the city's transportation bond program, which Phoenix voters approved for street, pedestrian, and bike infrastructure. The design phase will determine the final cost, which has not been publicly estimated yet. Construction is expected to be completed in a future construction season after the design and bidding processes are finished.