In the not-too-distant future, Sun City residents will be able to hop on their bikes and travel the entire distance of Sun City — from south to north — on dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks that will traverse the community along 99th Avenue.
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In the not-too-distant future, Sun City residents will be able to hop on their bikes and travel the entire distance of Sun City — from south to north — on dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks that will traverse the community along 99th Avenue.
Maricopa County Department of Transportation officials met recently with the Sun City Home Owners Association and a few residents to unveil planned enhancements for 99th Avenue.
The project will stretch from Olive Avenue to Beardsley Road, but county officials caution that it will be years before residents see any construction activity. Angela Warren, MCDOT spokeswoman, said construction could be 3-5 years away.
“Until we are at that point, we don’t usually set project dates,” she said. “We still have the scoping and design phases to get through.”
The project, first previewed in early November seeking resident input on a variety of options, will add sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides of 99th Avenue for the entire seven-mile length of the roadway through Sun City, Ms. Warren explained. Sidewalks at intersections and all other necessary areas will be brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, she added.
Initial estimates predict the project will cost $17 million, Ms. Warren said.
Other alternatives considered included partial sidewalks and bike lanes in selected areas.
“This will fill gaps in the transportation network,” Ms. Warren said.
Jim Powell, SCHOA Roads and Safety Committee chairman, was concerned whether there was enough right-of-way throughout the planned project area.
“There is also concern about speed on 99th Avenue and whether there will be enough room for bike lanes,” he said.
Ms. Warren assured him in a majority of areas MCDOT has plenty of room to make the improvements without compromising safety.
“We may have to acquire some rights-of-way, but not many,” she said. “We are working with city of Peoria and Arizona Department of Transportation.”
She added the county’s initial plans are to install four-foot bike lanes rather than the standard five-foot lanes.
“There will still be two lanes of traffic on both sides of 99th,” she said.
The project would be done in phases, with sections south of Grand Avenue completed first. Ms. Warren said summer months would be targeted for construction.
Pam Schwartz, committee member, asked if power chairs were considered when developing the initial project alternatives. Ms. Warren said they were.
“If there is a sidewalk available, power chair users can go on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, they can go in the roadway,” Ms. Warren said. “It is the same with walking.”
Art Jenkins, committee member, said bicyclists would also want connections from the bike lanes on 99th Avenue to other riding areas, such as the Skunk Creek Trail.
“We are also looking outside of the 99th area for those connections,” Ms. Warren said.
MCDOT representatives attend the monthly SCHOA Roads and Safety Committee meetings and residents can ask additional questions at future sessions. The next committee meeting is 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15 in the meeting room at the SCHOA office, 10401 W. Coggins Drive.
Rusty Bradshaw News Editor | Sun City &
Sun City West @SunCitiesEditor
Rusty Bradshaw is a 40-year veteran of community journalism, having worked at newspapers in Wyoming, Oregon and Arizona. He has been with Independent Newsmedia 15 years.
Rusty earned a junior college certificate from Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming and a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande Oregon.
An avid football fan, Rusty also enjoys photography, reading, spending time outdoors and enjoying life with his wife. He also authored three books of fiction, “The Rehabilitation of Miss Little,” “Moist on the Mountain” and "Gorge Justice." Visit www.rustythewriter.org.
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