Tucson’s Congress Street to Transform into a Pedestrian Zone for Halloween
This Halloween, Tucson’s downtown will undergo a temporary transformation as Congress Street becomes a pedestrian-only zone. The city is trialing this closure to explore the possibility of making the area permanently car-free, aiming to enhance the pedestrian experience.
On October 31, from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. the following morning, Congress Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Toole Avenue and just east of Scott Avenue. The only exceptions will be for pedestrians and the Sun Link Streetcar. According to Jenn Toothaker, Deputy Director of Tucson’s Department of Transportation and Mobility, this initiative will provide valuable insights.
“We’ll really be looking at this as something to learn from,” said Toothaker. “You know how what does having that many people around and closure of that length, what does that look like? How do we operate? How does it feel?” she added, reflecting on the broader implications for city planning.
The streetcar, which began operations in 2014, has revitalized the downtown area, sparking increased activity and making it a focal point for this pedestrian-focused experiment. “Our downtown area up through Fourth Avenue Historic District and Merchants District, and then into our U of A main gate and up to University Medical Center, so there are these very distinct destinations that this four-mile loop of streetcar operates,” Toothaker explained.
To accommodate the influx of up to 40,000 pedestrians expected on Halloween night, ride-share drop-off zones will be strategically placed outside the designated area. Emergency vehicles will retain access, ensuring safety and convenience.
Toothaker emphasized the importance of gathering feedback from both pedestrians and merchants to evaluate the success of the closure. “We’ll be looking to try to assess is: What is the pedestrian experience like through the closure?” she said. “What is the merchant’s experience like? And I think we’ll be getting that feedback.”
A streetcar in downtown Tucson on Monday, June 9, 2025.
