The 'South Mountain Freeway' would build a 22-mile freeway extension between Laveen and Chandler. The route's proximity to sacred tribal land has prompted a lawsuit, even after years of planning.
The proposed South Mountain Freeway would link Laveen in southwest Phoenix with Chandler by extending Loop 202 for 22 miles. The route would border tribal lands, and despite years of planning and community engagement, still provoked a lawsuit by the Gila River Indian Community. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday [June 30, 2015], contends that state and federal officials failed to 'consider adequately the significant harm the freeway would inflict on the environment and on historical and cultural resources,''" reports Chris Coppola.
South Mountain, which the freeway would cross, is one of the most important and sacred natural resources for the tribal community that lives in the area.
"I get it," writes columnist Joanna Allhands in an op-ed following the news of the lawsuit. "South Mountain Freeway at this point is a joke, a farce, a dream. The weathered sign on Pecos Road denoting the future freeway seems like a monument to bad planning and inaction."
Despite her doubts about the plans for the new freeway, Allhands is still skeptical about the lawsuit's claims that officials did not adequately plan the route during the process of creating a Final Environmental Impact Statement.
Allhands also expresses a willingness to give up on the plans, writing, "maybe, at this point, we should just drop the whole idea and let traffic continue to build on Interstate 10. Or maybe transportation officials should start talking more about building that insane super-freeway extension on I-10 around the Broadway Curve that would create separate lanes for local and regional traffic."
FULL STORY: Gila River tribe sues to prevent South Mountain Freeway
Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.
Phoenix Facilitates School-to-Affordable Housing Development
Two Phoenix school districts are selling their underused properties to build over 200 units of affordable housing.
Phoenix Shade Plan Focuses on Bus Stops
The city’s updated Shade Master Plan calls for trees and built structures at bus stops to protect residents from heat.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.
Seattle’s Pike Place Market Leans Into Pedestrian Infrastructure
After decades of debate, the market is testing a car ban in one of its busiest areas and adding walking links to the surrounding neighborhood.
The World’s Longest Light Rail Line is in… Los Angeles?
In a city not known for its public transit, the 48.5-mile A Line is the longest of its kind on the planet.
Quantifying Social Infrastructure
New developments have clear rules for ensuring surrounding roads, water, and sewers can handle new users. Why not do the same for community amenities?
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions