5th/6th Street Livability & Circulation Study
Student Involvement
Appropriate for this project and this corridor, there was a component of student involvement. Mansfeld Middle School and Rincon High School students also participated in the Visual Assessment. Additionally, a student from Mansfeld Middle School and a student from Rincon High School served on CCAG. The Mansfeld student used the 5th/6th Street project as a case study for civic problem solving, including research into the 5th/6th Street issues and a presentation of her solution to fellow CCAG members. The solution incorporated transit lanes, bike lanes, transit service, and improved pedestrian facilities, emphasizing crossings.
Development of Alternatives
During the course of alternative development, nine preliminary alternatives were reduced to three alternatives. All of the alternatives included several common elements (see Final Phase II Recommendations). Three roadway design alternatives were presented to the public in a series of Community Forums in April 2001. Two alternatives included one lane for through vehicle traffic in each direction with a center turn lane or median, while the third presented two lanes for through vehicle travel and a center turn lane or median. These three alternatives were assessed by the Project Team in terms of their advantages and disadvantages, including a matrix to compare alternatives to the existing condition in terms of safety, traffic circulation, support for public transit, and other parameters.
TAC Meetings
The Technical Advisory Council (TAC) is made up of key City staff from departments such as Planning, Traffic Engineering, Historic Preservation Office, Tucson Police Department, Economic Development, Sun Tran, Real Estate, Special Projects, Community Relations, Procurement, and representatives of council Ward offices 1 and 6. Also included as members of the TAC are the University of Arizona, the Pima Association of Governments, and the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. This group met monthly and provided assistance and technical analysis.
