Phoenix Considers Future of Reversible Lanes on Key Roads
In a move to address traffic challenges in its central area, Phoenix is considering changes to the reversible lanes on Seventh Street and Seventh Avenue. The city is actively seeking public feedback as part of a broader midtown traffic study, which is currently in its initial phase.
The Phoenix Street Transportation Department has initiated a study to assess the current traffic conditions. This includes evaluating lane usage, identifying traffic bottlenecks, and analyzing crash patterns. Scott Beck, a consultant from WSP USA, stated, “We’ll start with corridor analysis, which includes an opportunity for the public to provide input early in the process to shape the study’s purpose.”
The study will culminate in recommendations on the future of the reversible lanes, following public input and scenario evaluations. A petition with over 5,000 signatures has already urged the city council to reconsider these lanes, leading to the council’s request for a comprehensive traffic study on May 21, 2025.
This study covers the central part of Phoenix from McDowell Road to Dunlap Avenue, scrutinizing the reversible lanes thoroughly. Residents are encouraged to participate by filling out surveys, marking areas of concern on a community map, or voicing their opinions at public meetings. The first of these meetings will be held online on May 7, with feedback collection closing on May 29.
Post-analysis, the streets department will draft corridor recommendations, which will be available for further public review before final proposals are submitted to the city council in December. Beck mentioned that the goal is to balance safety, mobility, and community needs through practical solutions.
These reversible lanes, colloquially known as “suicide lanes” by some residents, were originally established nearly five decades ago to ease peak-hour congestion. Matt Wilson, the assistant director for street transportation, clarified, “That’s not a term that we use around the street transportation department. We stick to reversible lanes in our references to it.”
Previous studies, including one from December 2021, indicated that removing these lanes could increase travel times by over 40% in some areas. This ongoing study is not Phoenix’s first attempt at re-evaluating its traffic strategies.
