Monthly Archives: January 2015

Phoenix Planned Major Street Restrictions – Updated Jan. 30

Jan. 30, 2015 Drivers should be aware of the following city of Phoenix roadway restrictions and closures and are encouraged to allow for additional travel time. For special event related restrictions and closures drivers also are encouraged to use an alternate route. New Restrictions 91ST AVENUE AND CAMELBACK ROAD The intersection of 91st Avenue and Camelback Road will be restricted from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, fEB. 1. All traffic on northbound 91st Avenue will be restricted to right turns only for event traffic egress. Local and business access will be maintained. The restrictions are part of the Super Bowl event traffic egress plan implemented by the city of Glendale. Special Events CITYSCAPE PHOENIX ICE RINK Central Avenue from Jefferson to Washington streets is currently closed through February 2015. During this event, Central Avenue through traffic will be detoured at Jefferson Street to Second Street. SUPER BOWL RELATED STREET CLOSURES The following streets will be closed in downtown Phoenix for Super Bowl related activities: Central Avenue between Washington and Jefferson streets (Closed for Cityscape Ice Rink) First and Second streets between Monroe and Jefferson streets Third Street between Van Buren and Jefferson streets Monroe Street between Third and Fifth streets Adams Street between Third and Second avenues AND Central Avenue and Third Street To see a complete listing of the closure schedule visit this link. All Super Bowl related closures are subject to change and scheduled to be lifted by Feb. 4. Reopening After Restrictions Broadway Road – 18th to 24th streets Dunlap Avenue – Central to Second avenues, night work only Third Street – Virginia Avenue to Indian School Road Seventh Avenue and Osborn Road 24th Street – Broadway Road to University Drive 24th Street and Broadway Road 67th Avenue and Happy Valley Road Continuing Restrictions Black Mountain Boulevard – Deer Valley Road to Rough Rider Road will have a full closure due to a city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department and Arizona Department of Transportation road widening and improvement project, with completion scheduled for January. Broadway Road “Avenida Rio Salado” – Central to 43rd avenues, partial restriction due to a city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department capital improvement project to provide “connectivity” to the west valley, with completion scheduled for August. During the “Avenida Rio Salado” project, Broadway Road will be restricted between Seventh Street and 51st Avenue. For additional information, please visit avenidariosalado.com or call the Project Hotline at 623-825-3444. Broadway Road – 15th to 35th avenues, partial restriction due to a city of Phoenix Water Department sewer main improvement project, with completion scheduled for January. For additional information, call the Project Hotline at 623-825-3444. Buckeye Road – 35th to 67th avenues, partial restriction due to a city of Phoenix Water Services Department project for the installation of a new 36-inch water main, with completion scheduled for January. For additional information, call the project hotline at 602-235-2896. Osborn Road – 12th to 14th streets, partial restriction due to a city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department project, with completion scheduled for February. Seventh Avenue – Encanto Boulevard and McDowell Road, partial restriction due a city of Phoenix Water Services Department project to install replacement water service connections and the abandonment of an existing water line, completion scheduled for February. 27th Avenue – Camelback Road to Missouri Avenue, partial restriction due to the installation of a gas line service, completion scheduled for February. 28th Street – Pueblo to Jones avenues, full closure due to a city of Phoenix Water Services Department project for the installation of major storm drains, completion scheduled for March. 35th Avenue and Buckeye Road, partial restriction due a City of Phoenix Water Department installation of a new water main, completion scheduled for March. For additional information, call the project hotline at 602-235-2896 or email buckeyerdinfo@gmail.com. 35th Avenue and Durango Street, partial restriction due to a City of Phoenix Water Department installation of a new water main, completion scheduled for March. For additional information, call the project hotline at 602-235-2896 or email buckeyerdinfo@gmail.com. Northwest light rail extension – Ongoing restrictions along 19th Avenue and cross streets related to light rail northwest extension construction. 19th Avenue between Bethany Home Road and Dunlap Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction for utility relocation. More information at valleymetro.org/trafficrestrictions. To receive weekly construction updates via email, please email the Community Outreach Coordinator for Northwest Phoenix, Carla Kahn, ckahn@valleymetro.org. Weekly Restrictions These restrictions represent only the major planned activities reported to the Street Transportation Department’s Right-of-Way Management Office. This listing does not reflect closures or restrictions – due to unexpected events such as flooding, traffic collisions, fires, utility failures or other emergencies. For information on continuing planned major street restrictions, visit phoenix.gov/streets or follow @PHXStreetTrans on Twitter. Contact: (Media) Monica Hernandez Phone Number: 602-262-6180

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Transportation Tips for Downtown Phoenix Super Bowl XLIX Festivities

Jan. 28, 2015 With Verizon Super Bowl Central opening today and numerous other events also taking place this week in downtown, the city of Phoenix is providing the following transportation tips to help create a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors and locals. Public Transit Tips Public transit is the recommended mode of transportation to access downtown. By taking bus or light rail you won’t need to worry about driving or parking. Visit valleymetro.org/superbowl to plan your trip and find out where to buy a transit pass. Additional transit service for Super Bowl activities in downtown Phoenix includes: Special Light Rail Service to Verizon Super Bowl Central Extended hours and capacity on Valley Metro Rail, operating until 2 a.m. Jan. 28-31 and 11 p.m. Feb. 1. In downtown Phoenix, passengers will board and de-board from certain stations: De-boarding only stations: 3rd Street/Washington (westbound) 1st Avenue/Jefferson (eastbound) Boarding only stations: Central Avenue/Washington (westbound) 3rd Street/Jefferson (eastbound) Special Bus Service to Verizon Super Bowl Central Added Express and RAPID bus service will be provided from eight regional park-and-rides to downtown Phoenix. Service will operate every 30 minutes until approximately 2 a.m. Jan. 28-31, and 5 p.m. on Feb. 1. Downtown Phoenix-bound local bus service will be extended until approximately 2 a.m. Jan. 28-31, and 5 p.m. Feb. 1. Service will operate every 15-20 minutes. In addition to public transit, consider using Grid Bike Share as a way to get around for short trips in the downtown area. Hundreds of the bright lime-green bicycles are available for locals and visitors and available on a pay as you go basis. Please note that during this week, some Grid Bike Share stations in downtown Phoenix may be moved temporarily to a different location. Visit the Grid Bike Share website for more information. Driving Tips If you are planning to drive, consider leaving your car at a park-and-ride location, and then using public transportation to get downtown. For park-and-ride locations, visit the Valley Metro website. Drivers are encouraged to enter or exit downtown Phoenix from the west or south. The streets on the west or south handle greater capacity and are not as heavily used as those in the east. By using these streets you may arrive at your destination quicker and avoid traffic congested areas. Although Seventh and Washington streets will remain open, try to avoid both streets as they will likely experience heavy congestion. Use recommended routes for easiest access in and out of downtown. Although all major streets in downtown will remain open, be flexible and allow for additional travel time as some streets will be closed or restricted. Look for wayfinding signage to help guide you into downtown Phoenix, to parking facilities and to the airport. Be mindful of pedestrian traffic as the Super Bowl festivities draw a large number pedestrians. Parking Tips There are approximately 42 public and private parking structures available throughout the downtown vicinity, totaling more than 27,000 parking spaces at various times throughout the day and night. The main parking structures are located between Seventh Street and Seventh Avenue from Fillmore to Lincoln streets. Plan to arrive and park by 5 p.m., as nightly events are expected to draw peak attendance and fill parking spots. Call Downtown Phoenix Ambassadors at 602-495-1500 for the most up to date information on parking availability. The ambassadors will be conducting frequent parking inventories Wednesday, Jan. 28 through Sunday, Feb. 1. For more information about parking, including parking garage locations, meter rates and hours of enforcement and accommodations for people with disabilities visit azsuperbowl.com/knowbeforeyougo or phoenix.gov/azsuperbowl. For additional travel tips and key information visit the Know Before You Go section of the Arizona Super Bowl website or the city of Phoenix Super Bowl webpage. On Twitter follow @#SB49 and #SBCentral for the latest Super Bowl information. Contact: Monica Hernandez, 602-262-6180 Matt Heil 602-261-8254 Phone Number: 602-262-6180

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Phoenix Offers Free Tax-Filing Services Beginning Jan. 31

Jan. 26, 2015 The city of Phoenix Human Services Department has launched its Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) campaign to help low- and moderate-income working families who earned less than $53,000 in 2014 with free tax-filing services and an EITC tax credit up to $6,143. Individuals and families who qualify also may be able to file for the child tax credit, dependent care credit and the education tax credit at the city’s free tax preparation sites, scheduled to open on Jan. 31. Fourteen primary sites, located in Phoenix, offer free tax-filing services. A list of Phoenix sites, including hours and days of operation, is available at phoenix.gov/eitc. It is important to note that hours and days of operation vary for different locations. Taxpayers must bring a picture ID for themselves and spouse, Social Security cards and/or Individual Tax Identification Number cards for all household members, proof of income – including W-2s and 1099 Retirement Income – information for other income, 1095-A verification of medical insurance premium tax credit, verification of all deductions/credits and the amount of money paid to child care provider (if applicable). If filing jointly, both adults must be present to sign the return. The city is partnering with the IRS, Arizona Department of Revenue, Salt River Project and the faith-based community to promote the EITC campaign. For information about the city of Phoenix EITC program, visit phoenix.gov/eitc or call 1-877-211-8661. For more information about Valleywide EITC site locations and hours of operation, call the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-906-9887 or visit irs.gov. Contact: General Information: 1-877-211-8661 Phone Number: Media Contact: Alejandro Montiel, 602-534-3443

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Super Bowl An Opportunity to Showcase the New Phoenix

Jan. 21, 2015 In the midst of the Super Bowl excitement, Mayor Greg Stanton and the city’s Community and Economic Development Director Christine Mackay have unveiled a new campaign to send a clear message: Phoenix is hot for new economic opportunity. “We are about to welcome more than 1 million people to our city, and it’s important that we go all-in to showcase how Phoenix has transformed,” Stanton said. “Our investments in human capital, a concentrated effort to increase exports, and stronger public-private partnerships have positioned us to be more competitive in the global economy.” Many corporate leaders already are in town for the Super Bowl on Feb. 1, and Mackay is seizing the opportunity to sell Phoenix as the ideal place to start or grow businesses. “As companies look for new sites to locate and expand, Phoenix competes very well on a national basis,” Mackay said. “Our new campaign provides an updated community profile that will help us tell the Phoenix story to companies seeking to create quality jobs in a new market.” Mackay and the city’s Community and Economic Development Department assembled a profile of Phoenix that highlights its strengths as the state’s center of government, commerce and culture. The campaign emphasizes the city’s growing entrepreneur ecosystem, investments in higher education and bioscience facilities, and the success of the 20-mile light rail system. Stanton referred to the campaign as a “re-branding” of Phoenix. “This is the perfect moment for us to show the rest of the world why Phoenix is the best place to work, live and play,” he said. For more details contact Christine Mackay, Community and Economic Development Director, at 602-534-9049. Read the Phoenix Community Profile (PDF) https://www.phoenix.gov/econdevsite/Documents/Phoenix%20Community%20Profile.pdf Contact: (Media) Tina May Phone Number: 602-534-9505

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